Alabama – Dome, Cupola & Flagstaff

Flagstaff
The original cupola did not have a flagstaff on top. Instead there was ornamentation around the rim of the cupola roof. The flagstaff was added about 1912. There has long been another flagstaff in front of the capitol also flying the USA and Alabama flags.

Dome
The dome has not always been white. The outer shell is tern coated metal, which is red, and for the first years it was left unpainted. Since then, the dome has been painted white with different coatings that changed color as they aged, so old photos might show it as anything from red or black to white. The current, white-based elastomeric polymer coating is performing well, so the dome should now retain the white finish.

Cupola
There is a ladder running up the back of the dome and cupola; the cupola portion is visible in this image. Illinois has a similar ladder, and they are probably used to raise and lower the flags.

The ring of black ornamentation around the bottom of the Alabama cupola I suspect is a honeysuckle like North Carolina's.

Illinois – Observation Deck, Dome, Cupola, & Flagstaff

from image at right

More Zinc Roofing?
The roof of the cupola on top of the dome appears to be covered with zinc like the dome. (above)

Entrance Cupola
image courtesy of
Valerie Mockaitis

The two cupolas over either side of the main entrance and the mansard roofs on the north and south wings all have roofs a lighter silver color than the dome. They might not be zinc.

image courtesy of Stephanie says
through Creative Commons

Dome
The Illinois state capitol building's dome is covered with zinc. Although the zinc was chosen for its shine and ability to withstand weathering, Illinois' is the only current state capitol with a zinc dome.

How do you suppose the US and state flags on top of these capitols are raised and lowered? On the Illinois capitol dome, there is a framed ladder visible in many photos running from the lower edge of the cupola roof to what appears to be the base of the flagstaff. Perhaps someone climbs it to tend to the flags. South Carolina's flags are fed through the hole in the top of the cupola that the flagstaff goes through. The people handling them work from inside the cupola.

Mansard Roof, North Wing image courtesy of Valerie Mockaitis

image origin unknown, provided by Mrs. Zumpano's Fourth Grade Class

Observation Deck
The observation deck on the upper level of the drum tower has straight, black, wrought iron balconies supported by straight colonnades. Many capitols have observation decks, but the balcony design is unique to the Illinois capitol.

Indiana — Five Domes, Cupolas, Flagstaff, Eagle, Statues

Main east entrance image courtesy of cpmanda through Creative Commons image courtesy of Daniel Schwen through Creative Commons

Domes
Only a few of our state capitols have more than one dome. Indiana's has five - the large central dome and four low, square domes on the corners over the pavilions. In the recent aerial image at right, the entire roof appears to be copper. In 1964, the central dome was painted in gold epoxy. In 1978, the dome was clad in copper during a major roof replacement.

The South Face
The south face of the Indiana state capitol building fronted on the National Road, the first federally funded road in U.S. history, built to connect the nation to the western settlements. Probably for this reason, particular attention was given to ornamentation on that side.

The golden eagle, body facing south and head turned west, stands centered over the portico. Notice, Mississippi, the Indiana capitol eagle does not face DC.

On the ledge below the eagle is a four-part statue set entitled "The Westward Journey." The sculptures represent Native Americans leaving the state and going west while pioneers enter from the east. The two larger, end statue groupings are pictured above and at right.

Nevada – Domed Cupola & Flagstaff

Dome
There is a general belief that the dome of the Nevada capitol's cupola roof is covered in silver. After all, Nevada is the "Silver State." However, the belief is false; the domed roof is silver-colored fiberglass. Apparently, tour guides will tell you it was originally covered in silver but later re-fitted with fiberglass, which is also untrue. Silver would have been too hard to maintain.

The cupola's dome was originally covered with tin, specifically tin-plated steel called charcoal tinplate, and painted with red fireproof paint. Since 1876, it has been painted silver. During a late 1970s restoration that included retrofitting to protect against earthquakes, the original dome was replaced with a fiberglass replica with its own silver finish.

More Domes
Pictured at left is the octagonal annex at the rear of the Nevada state capitol building. It was constructed in 1905 to house the state library, which is now located elsewhere. The access from the main building to the annex is through a breezeway. The dome and the two cupolas on the turrets are still roofed with tin-plate panels painted silver. The annex is usually not seen in photos, but occasionally a cupola will show up.

Photo by Aaron A. Gallup, taken Dec. 1972.
From the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS, NEV, 13-CARCI, 4-8.

South Carolina — Dome, Cupola & Flagstaff

Dome
The South Carolina State House dome and cupola are covered with 44,000 pounds of copper.

There is a room in the drum area with a ladder to a platform over the inner dome. This platform is where workers stand to raise and lower the USA and South Carolina flags on top of the cupola.

The main plan for this state house by Major John R. Niernsee did not have a dome at all. A sketch of Niernsee's plan is in the far right border of this page. It shows a square tower which a later architect eliminated in favor of the dome.

The rest of the building follows Niernsee's design almost exactly, partly because his son, Frank McHenry Niernsee, became the architect shortly before the building was completed and returned to his father's plans.

Roof
After the Civil War, the incomplete capitol was roofed with tin in an effort to protect the building inexpensively. The tin was finally replaced with slate between 1900 and 1903.