Terror in the Capitol Dome! This Time It's Click Bait!

 Topeka, KS

Our domes in a dome!

Topeka, KS The State Capitol

This morning after drinking coffee and taking Francis to the dog park, We headed West on I-70 for about an hour to Topeka, KS.  Topeka is the 5th largest city in Kansas and the capitol of Kansas.  

We arrived at around 12:30 and found free parking in the parking garage under the building.  Our capitol tour was at 1pm so we had plenty of time to walk around the lobby and look in the gift shop before the tour started.  We also saw that there was a separate Dome Tour that started at 2:15 so we planned on doing that as well.

Dome artwork in the underground parking lot

Kansas is The Sunflower State

The State Bird is the Western Meadowlark

Get your pet tornado in the gift shop

This whole section is new and underground.  The arches you see were cut out of the foundation for this addition

They had trading cards for famous people from Kansas.

The marble floor in the visitors center has a map of the state showing the counties

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and gave a good tour

The Senate wing was super fancy. 

The carpet in the Senate wing

This copper column is hollow and served as heating and temperature control back in the day

The House wing was less elaborate because they ran out of money decorating the Senate wing.  This caused friction between the 2 groups that lives today.

They have 5 names of early abolitionists that were uncovered in the renovation

John E. Barker (R) District 70

I think I am getting into carpet...

Looking up at the inner dome (more on this later)

It's the 2nd highest of the Domed capitols

It seemed like we were pretty high here but we weren't even close to the excitement to come

The capitol has art all over the place.  This was the newest piece celebrating Brown Vs The Board of Education.  It started a few miles from where we were and the school is now a State Park.

Selfie in the old Supreme Court

There is a library inside the capitol

Some sections had a glass floor

This think this was a dumbwaiter

In The Governors Office

A mural of John Brown

The Dome Tour

After the history tour we headed up to the 5th floor to wait for The Dome Tour to start.  We were met by our new guide and we started heading up.

More shots of the Steel Cage Elevator that still needs an Elevator Operator to run and runs daily

They listed safety rules verbally as we left for the tour.  Here they are from the website here.

Safety Rules

The tour’s 296 steps to the top of the dome include a series of straight, steep, narrow, spiral, and irregularly spaced landings and stairs. There are no rest areas, seats, or restrooms available on the tour route.

It is recommended that persons with heart, back, neck, knee, acrophobia (a fear of heights), or breathing problems, as well as those with a disability that may prevent them from walking unaided (cane, walker, etc.) should not participate in the tour.

Due to its physical challenges, the tour is not recommended for small children or women who are pregnant. Children must be four years or older.

Proceed slowly and single file up and down the stairs and act responsibly while on tour

Stay with your group at all times

Leaning on railings is not permitted

Pay close attention to your immediate surroundings

No large-heeled shoes will be allowed

Speak quietly in the dome

Do not drop items over the railing

Do not write on any dome surface

Inform guides at any point if you do not wish to proceed

These rules will be strictly enforced for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

Our first outside views from the "7th Floor Landing" after a few regular staircases

Now we are above the inner dome and headed up those yellow steps to the spiral staircase in the middle of the dome

This was taken before we were out of our comfort zone on the steps

That silver platform is for the winch that raises and lowers the chandelier at the top of the dome.

Another outside view but still not at the top

We are still headed to that spiral staircase

Now we are at the top.  I was too scared to take photos on the way

Once I was back on a walkway attached to the outer dome I was more comfortable and took this photo.  The lady looks pretty scared to me.

This was the best I could do for a photo looking down.

Back to the normal staircases.  Most people that die on Mt. Everest, die on the way down so we aren't out of the woods yet!

Donna coming down the last of the stairs.  We were both a bit overwhelmed from the experience.  It is the most out of my comfort zone I have been on this trip.  I didn't know I was afraid of heights until today.

You can see the official video of Joe (our guide) giving the tour here.  It really shows what I couldn't show and it's worth a watch.

After the dome tour we had to catch our breaths and take a break before we got back in the car and drove back to KC.  We took in some of the sights we missed on the tour because we blew past them so we could keep up with the guide.

Donna next to an original dome window.

The Snack Bar

We picked up a few more counties in Kansas on this trip so we are now at 9 or 8.6%.  

Here is our recent progress superimposed over the county floor map in the capitol visitors center.

That's it for today.  We survived!  It was seriously way more intense than I ever expected it to be.  If you missed yesterday's WAY more tame day, you can see it here.  Thanks for reading.