We had planned on visiting the Arizona Capitol Building when we were in Mesa, but the time got away from us. So, we drove a little further (maybe an extra 30 minutes) to see it from Casa Grande. Arizona was the nation's 48th state, so the Capitol building was the youngest we have seen (hopefully, one day we will see Honolulu and Juneau). It was built between 1898 and 1901 and used by the territorial government until Arizona became a state in 1912.
They outgrew their building in less than a fifty years (1960), which prompted the construction of a pair of buildings for their State House and Senate (neither were picture worthy). Now the entire original capitol building is a museum.
Look at that grass! We haven't seen grass in so long.
Dressed in my best "tourist" duds we headed inside to learn a little about the history of the State of Arizona.
I was impressed by the detail in the model of the USS Arizona below. There were a few rooms with artifacts salvaged from the ship that hinted at the opulence that once graced one of the US Navy's finest warships.
U.S.S. Arizona - Scale: 1/8" = 1'
Built by W. F. Waterman
At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time (12:55 p.m. EST) on December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,500 people and wounding 1,000 more. Almost half of the casualties at Pearl Harbor occurred on the naval battleship USS Arizona.
This magnificent silver service was donated to the USS Arizona by the citizens of Arizona in 1919.
As we approached the Capitol building, I thought it appeared small, but I was wrong! All four floors were open to the public. We did not have a guided tour, so we just wandered the rooms until hunger told us it was time for a BBQ lunch.
We had never before heard of the Gratitude Train. Joani found it to be particularly interesting. Several rooms were devoted to its history.
This put a big smile on my face! It was new to me.
French railroad worker, Andre Picard, suggested the idea to send "thank you" gifts to the U.S. for the $40 million in food and fuel sent to France and Italy in 1947.
A sampling of the over 52,000 gifts from grateful...
...French citizens were on display.
I believe the wing below was where the governor's original office was located. Although there were a couple of school groups touring the museum, we had this gallery to ourselves allowing us to enjoy the fine artwork.
There were 9 huge, beautiful painting by David Swing hanging throughout the capitol. All painted between 1937 and 1939 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco.
One of my favorites!
Saguaro Cactus Forest - Oil on Canvas - by David Swing 1937-39
This was the public's place to observe the House at work from 1901-1960.
House of Representatives Gallery.
Plaster detail circling the House of Representatives Gallery (above the doors).
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