Minnesota State Capitol

Constructed in 1883, the Minnesota State Capitol building is actually the state’s second official meeting place. The original capitol building was destroyed by fire in 1881. Our visit to the prominent and important Minnesota State building was part of our State History Tour. We recently learned all sixth graders are eligible for admission to Minnesota Historical Society sites for FREE during the academic year. So we set out to explore as many of the 15 historic sites as possible under the program. Though a visit and tour of the Minnesota State Capitol is always free to everyone, including the Capitol in our tour was a must.

• 

• 

Rotunda

Tours of the capitol happen every day except Sundays and begin every hour, on the hour. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. We arrived mid-morning and went to the front desk to let them know we were interested in the tour. We had a few minutes to wait until the tour guide was available, so we took the opportunity to walk the rotunda and marvel at the newly renovated and ornately painted domed ceiling. On the ground floor, a marble inlayed star represents the states motto, “The North Star State.”

• 

• 

State Supreme Court Chamber

Once the tour began, the first stop was the Minnesota Supreme Court Chambers. We sat in the gallery facing the chairs of the chief justice and the six associate justices while our tour guide explained the murals in the chamber. In the alcove on each wall of the chamber is a painting depicting concepts of law from different time periods.

• 

Quadriga

From the Supreme Court Chamber, the tour continued to the Quadriga. These four golden horses atop the capitol are officially known as, Progress of the State. They are more commonly referred to as the quadriga and were added to the building in 1906. The statue is constructed on a steel frame and then wrapped in hammered copper. A thin layer of 23.5 carat gold-leaf completes the statue. The horses represent earth, wind, water and fire. The male figure represents the state. The two female figures represent industry and agriculture. An up close look at the statue was hands down the best part of the tour.

• 

• 

House of Representatives Chamber

The final stop on the state capitol tour was to the House of Representatives Chamber. We sat in the third floor gallery for an awesome view of the 134 seats on the house floor. The House of Representatives Chamber is the largest room in the Capitol. He House meets here as do joint sessions of the legislature. The large sculpture high above the chamber floor reads, “the voice of the people, is the voice of God.”

• 

• 

Overall, we loved the tour of the Minnesota State Capitol and certainly recommend a visit. For more details on how to obtain a 6th Grade Minnesota History Pass click here. Follow along this summer as we explore much of Minnesota’s storied history at Jeffers Petroglyphs, the Minnesota History Center, Mill City Museum, James J. Hill House, Snake River Fur Post, Oliver Kelley Farm, Lower Sioux Agency, Historic Fort Snelling and many more.

Happy Adventuring, Rochelle