The Texas Capitol Building - Virtual Tour
The Texas Capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
The Rotunda
South Entrance
House Chamber
The two chambers of the Texas Legislature (the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives) meet in large double-height spaces in the centers of the two wings on the second floor, overlooked by public galleries on the third floor.
House Chamber Chandeliers
Four large brass chandeliers hang in the House of Representatives Chamber. They feature light bulbs that spell out “Texas” between the points of their center star.
Senate Chamber
The two chambers of the Texas Legislature (the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives) meet in large double-height spaces in the centers of the two wings on the second floor, overlooked by public galleries on the third floor.
Senate Chamber Skylights
Skylights provide natural light to the Senate Chamber. The original skylights admitted too much heat and they along with the decorative ceiling panels were blocked. The 1990s Restoration installed reproduction acid-etched tempered skylights with a Plexiglas barrier as a safety precaution in case of glass breakage.
Capitol Extension Seal Court
The Capitol Extension Seal Court features a handsome terrazzo floor rendition of the reverse of the Texas State Seal. The seal includes the six national flags that have flown over Texas.
Open Air Rotunda
The Capitol Extension Open-Air Rotunda provides a unique perspective. It has the same diameter, 60 feet, as the Capitol Rotunda. The design on the Extension Open Air Rotunda floor mirrors the Rotunda ceiling. Bronze letters spell out the word "TEXAS," and surround a star, which also functions as a drain.
