Jefferson City, Part III: Touring the Capital Building

That morning, after the Birthday breakfast of Dum Dums and pancakes (yeah, I know), we dressed and loaded into the van to go tour the Missouri State Capitol Building. Jefferson City is actually pretty small for a state capital (pop. 40,000), so it was a short drive. It actually took us as much time to find a place to park as it did to get there.

It's also a very clean city. In all our driving around, I didn't see any of the urban decay you sort of expect to find. No litter, no potholes, no grafitti. And VERY green; trees and landscaping everywhere. It was pretty. My tax dollars at work, I assume.

This is a cannon that was used in the Mexican-American war, and it was right there out front. Mark and Hyrum were impressed by the size and rifling; they were guessing at the ammo it would use.
Here is the Lewis & Clark memorial, built and dedicated on the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery. It was really neat, too. Of course, anything that incorporates running water has my children's immediate attention.


Gabba liked this statue best, because that earring actually moved.

As soon as Eliza climbed up, Yvy wanted to ride the statue of Lewis' dog, Seaman, too! Then she got on, and her little bare legs came in contact with the sun heated bronze. Suddenly, getting her turn wasn't as important anymore.

This is the lily pond in the gorgeous gardens between the Governor's Mansion and the Capital Building's grounds. There are my girls, imagining mermaids and enchanted frogs. There's me, behind the camera, reading the sign out loud for them, and enforcing it with a very stern voice.

Eliza: "Take a picture of me by the lily pond, Mommy!"

Yvy thinks she can read. To her, this sign said, "This...is...a...pond." It was very cute.

Gabba on the balcony of the Capital Building. You can see the cool bridge over the Missouri River in the background.

Mark loved the architecture, and took all kinds of pictures of features that impressed him. George hung out and chewed on his fingers. We forgot a sun hat for his pale, bald head, so we just made due.


Lucy by the bell...I forget what it's called.

Hyrum in front of the brass scale model of the USS Missouri.


There are two bears on the Missouri State seal, so, yeah, there were bears all over the place. This one was on the banister in the rotunda.

Lucy and Gabba up on the second story promenade of the rotunda. It was really pretty in there, and I was impressed that - in spite of our overly religion-neutral culture, there are still references to God carved in marble on Government property.


George got tired of being carried (shocking, I know), so we let him down for a bit. He loved the smooth, cool marble floors. Here he is, cruising around in the gallery where they hang all the portraits of Missouri governors.

Again with the running water. In their defense, it was pretty hot. And it was very lovely and inviting.
All of my little phoglets in a row. Directly behind them was a hill covered in wildflowers that smelled heavenly. And beyond that, was the river. It was a little taxpayer-funded piece of Heaven.
More running water...

All that running water made us thirsty. And it was hot. How nice of the State of Missouri to put this handy little drinking fountain right where we needed it. And, look! There is even one down low for your pet - or your three-year-old.