Nevada's elegant state capitol

The Nevada State Capitol was built in the form of a Grecian cross. The architectural style of the capitol is a mixture of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian,which are compounds of the Greek Order and yet the building is referred to as "Italianate" style. That octagonal tower above the capitol adds a really nice touch to the building. It duplicates the arched-window concept of the building while providing an elegant support for the silver dome that rises above it. The tower is 30 feet in diameter and the top of it is 120 feet above the ground.
In 1875, a fence was installed to completely enclose the capitol plaza to keep wandering cattle from entering the capitol grounds!
In 1905, an octagonal, addition was added to the back side of the capitol to serve as the state library.It was constructed out of the same material and in the same architectural style as the rest of the building. This addition now houses the state controller's office and his or her support staff.
In 1915, north and south wings were added to the capitol to provide larger chambers for the Senate and the Assembly. (Most states call the lower house of the legislature the House of Representatives, but some states call it the House of Delegates and 2 states, Nevada and California, call it the Assembly).
The front of the capitol building is accessed by seven concrete steps that lead to a small porch that is graced by the four Doric columns. The front entrance doors are wooden with large windows in the upper half. These wooden doors also add a nice touch to the building.
I love the interior of this building! The floors and wainscoting are made of Alaskan marble. On the walls there are decorative friezes that show the various industries and resources in Nevada. The ceilings have chandeliers and the arched windows have panes of twenty-six ounce French Crystal. The wooden stairs and bannisters also add a nice touch to the building and give it a historic ambience.
The silver dome is small and it is unusual because it is a six-sided dome sitting on top of an eight-sided tower. The silver dome represents the fact that the early mining boom that led to the creation of Nevada as a territory and, eventually, a state, was a silver boom. Silver is still the predominant mineral found in Nevada to this day.
The interior hallways are lined with paintings of past governors.