State Capitols Visited and Ranked

We have embarked on a project to visit all of the capitol buildings in all of the state capitals in the U.S. And of course Doug decided to rank them according to how much we liked them, based on his completely arbitrary assessment of the architecture, historical elements, design, artwork, and grounds of each building, as well as the overall democratic feelings that each capitol invoked.

Here are the current standings. Click a state to see the post and photos.

Pennsylvania. Elegant throughout, and the Mercer tiles showcasing the history of the state are truly unique.
Minnesota. Edges out Wisconsin (just barely) due to its more cohesive design and unique rooftop golden chariot.
Wisconsin. Bonus points for the integration of badgers into many elements of the building. More bonus points for referencing Hamilton during the tour.
Colorado. This the Western state capitol building that many of Colorado’s neighbors wish they could have afforded.
Mississippi. Considering that nearly the entire cost of the building construction was covered by a windfall tax settlement, the grandeur-to-budget ratio is off the charts.
Kansas. Terrific art and a heart-stopping climb up to the dome’s exterior walkway made for a memorable experience.
Iowa. A beautiful law library and walkway around the inside of the dome cap off an elegant but never ostentatious interior.
Oklahoma. Somewhat antiseptic with its plethora of white marble floors and walls, likely the result of both recent construction and renovations that have not had been exposed to decades of footsteps.
South Dakota. A nice mix of Midwestern practicality and ornamentation.
Indiana. If our review uses terms like “antiseptic” and “workmanlike,” you know it’s probably not going to rank high.
Missouri. May have risen in our rankings if the famed Thomas Hart Benton mural had been viewable, or the famous bronze doors weren’t under renovation.
Wyoming. Very subdued, with perhaps too much imported material used in its construction.
South Carolina. A quite compact building, and still leaning a bit too much on its Confederate heritage.
Virginia. So much history, and so many missed opportunities.
Alabama. The tour is great, but the building is certainly less ornate than many state capitols, and the state seems to be another that thinks that its dark history should be cherished.