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The Hills Capitol
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History
of the State Capitol
The first
capital of Pennsylvania -- the headquarters of Pennsylvania's
government -- was established at Tinicum Island, on the Delaware River in
Bucks County, in 1643, when Pennsylvania was still a Colony.
In the
following years, the capital was moved to Philadelphia and Lancaster
before being permanently established in Harrisburg in 1812. A building was
constructed and the General Assembly first assembled there on January 2,
1821.
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The
Capitol Building
The main building
of the original Capitol was destroyed by fire on February 2, 1897. Two
months later, the General Assembly authorized the construction of the
present main Capitol building, which was dedicated by President Theodore
Roosevelt on October 4, 1906.
The building was
designed by Philadelphia architect Joseph M. Huston to reflect the
architecture of the Italian Renaissance. An East Wing addition was
constructed in 1987 to alleviate space problems.
The five-story
Capitol, with its Vermont granite exterior, contains 475 rooms and covers
two acres of ground. At the center is its landmark dome, 272 feet in
height, topped by a symbolic figure of the Commonwealth holding a
garlanded mace.
The Capitol's
interior is finished in marble, mahogany, bronze and tile.
Its corridors are adorned with gold leaf fixtures and paintings
from renowned artists. The
interior of the dome is a popular attraction for Capitol visitors, who are
drawn to its breathtaking detail.
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The State
Seal
The State Seal
is stamped onto official Commonwealth documents to certify their
authenticity. When
Pennsylvania was still a province of England, its seals were those of
William Penn and his descendants. By
1778, a seal similar to the present one was in use.
The seal
includes obverse and reverse faces, although the obverse face is most
commonly used. It contains a
shield emblazoned with a sailing ship, a plow and sheaves of wheat.
Surrounding the shield are a stalk of Indian corn, an olive branch
and the inscription, "Seal of the State of Pennsylvania."
The reverse
face shows a woman -- representing liberty -- trampling upon a lion -- representing tyranny. The
design is encircled by the words, "Both Can't Survive."
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The Coat of
Arms
Pennsylvania's
Coat of Arms is a symbol of the Commonwealth and can be found on many
documents and publications. An early version first appeared on state paper money issued
in 1777; a revised design today adorns the state flag. The coat of arms was originally designed by Caleb Lownes of
Philadelphia more than 200 years ago.
The Legislature changed it several times before settling on the
current design -- similar to Lownes' original -- made up of a shield
in the center, supported by two horses.
On the shield are the emblems of the State Seal -- a ship, plow,
sheaves of wheat, an olive branch and cornstalk.
At the bottom is the motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence."
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