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| Closeup of the Georgia State Capitol by Connor.Carey on the Wikimedia Commons, 2009 |
Taking advantage of an extra hour after a meeting at GSU library, I decided to visit the Georgia State Capitol before my MARTA trip home. Although not quite as friendly upon entry as the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, the Georgia Capitol is a remarkable building to explore on your own. Decked out with the usual pomp and circumstance, with large paintings of former governors and busts of famous personages throughout the first floor lobby, the capitol exemplifies the high Victorian style of its inception. Completed in 1889, the c
apitol became a symbol of the New South. Intriguingly, a museum space was part of the original plans for the capitol, and the fourth floor corridor has served as a museum since the capitol was built.
The Capitol Museum is a hidden gem with a delightful consciousness of its own history. There are exhibit cases that detail the changing focus of the museum over time and the ways in which museum aesthetics have shifted. There are fantastic vintage dioramas on native flora and fauna and on key industries including peach packing and turpentine production.
Each museum case, especially in the large natural history section of the fourth floor, stands alone, inviting browsing and contemplation. I hope this museum is not as under-appreciated as it appeared on this quiet Wednesday afternoon.
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