奥斯汀旅游

德克萨斯州议会大厦位于德州首府奥斯汀，建造于1885年，占地面积51英亩，由建筑师Elijah E Myer仿照华盛顿的国会大厦所设计的，于1970年被列入国家史迹名录，1986年被评为国家历史地标。 德克萨斯州议会大厦是德州的历史地标，长约173米，宽约88米，高94米，是美国最高的州立首府大厦，比国会大厦还要高出七英尺。大厦由红色花岗石建造，整体感觉宏伟壮观。在大厦的顶部有一个高14英尺的自由女神雕像，于1986-1987年加上的，使整个大厦更加出众。大厦内中心的圆形大厅的地板中心绘有一枚大图章，大图章周围环绕着六国图章。共和国总统们以及德克萨斯州州长们的画像悬挂在对公众开放的四层环形大厅的每一层。 The Texas Capitol building as we know it today wasn’t the first one. The state’s very first Capitol building was built on a hilltop near Congress Avenue. The next building, located at Capitol Square, was completed in 1853 but burnt down in 1881. A nation-wide design contest was held to determine who would build the next (and current) Capitol building. Architect Elijah E. Myers, who built the Capitols of Michigan and Colorado, won with a Renaissance Revival style. However, construction was held up for two years over a debate as to whether the exterior should be built from granite or limestone. It was eventually decided that it would be built of “sunset red" granite from Marble Falls, Texas. After seven years, $3,744,600 of expenses, and over 1,000 workers, building was completed in 1888. It opened publicly on San Jacinto Day (April 21), at 310 feet tall. During the dedication, Temple Houston, son of Sam Houston, had this to say about the structure: "This building fires the heart and excites reflections in the minds of all... the architecture of a civilization is its most enduring feature, and by this structure shall Texas transmit herself to posterity..." In 1983, a fire almost destroyed the building. The State Preservation Board was then formed to help preserve, maintain, and restore the Capitol and its grounds. In 1990, a project began to expand the building, and by 1993, 667,000 square feet had been added. Over the years, many more improvements and renovations have been made to the Capitol complex.