Georgia State House
I slept really well and woke around 8:00 am. I decided to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel because I was out of milk for cereal. I had blueberry pancakes and head for the Atlanta Capital building.
Capital Building
The Georgia State Capitol building, located in Atlanta, was completed in 1889, and combines elements of Corinthian and Georgian styles of architecture.
The Georgia State Capitol is home to the offices of the Governor of Georgia, as well as the state legislature and other government agencies. I was happy to find the building is open to the public, and visitors can take guided tours to learn about its history and architecture. The building is adorned with numerous statues and landmarks, including a large Christmas tree that is set up in the building's rotunda each holiday season.
One of the most notable features of the Georgia State Capitol is its impressive dome, which stands at a height of 278 feet. The dome is made of marble and is supported by four massive columns. It is topped with a gold-covered statue of the mythological figure Athena, who represents wisdom and knowledge. There is a very nice model of the building on the top floor which gives a good sense of the dome and access to the statue at the top. In the capital museum a fascinating exhibition about the constant maintenance needed on the dome and liberty statue at the top.
Inside the building, visitors can see several statues and artwork that depict important figures in Georgia's history. I recognized the portrait of Jimmy Carter on the wall. As one historian mentioned to me recently, the larger the portrait the more prominent the figure.
There is a statue of former Georgia Governor James Oglethorpe, who founded the colony of Georgia in the early 18th century. Oglethorpe is mentioned across the state in many historic areas. There is also a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., who was born and raised in Atlanta and became a prominent civil rights leader.
I was surprised that in my short visit, I was able to visit a committee debate about appropriations, a trial and a press conference held by Governor Kemp.
Governor Kemp’s Press Conference
Trip Preperation
I needed to prepare for my trip from Atlanta to Boston on December 9th for my Granddaughter’s 1st birthday. I found a quiet place with wifi and planned out my day. I decided to stay at a Cracker Barrel north of the airport which would give me easy access to long-term parking. I had a salad at Cracker Barrel and was asleep by 10:30 pm.