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The Texas State Capitol is a beautiful government building in Austin, Texas. It’s the seat of government for the State of Texas and a National Historic Landmark. This entry covers the significant spaces in the building other than the legislative chambers, South Foyer, and Rotunda.
Public Corridors
First of all, after entering through the South Foyer and admiring the Rotunda, it’s easy to notice the building’s spacious public corridors. There are five levels of corridors, each featuring beautiful woodwork, cast iron columns, and plaster molding.
Agricultural Museum
On the first floor of the west wing is the Agricultural Museum. It was established by the Department of Agriculture shortly after the Texas State Capitol Opened. The museum displays cases and jars filled with agricultural products grown in Texas and has been restored to its 1894 appearance.
Flags
In the corridor near the Agricultural Museum are three historic flags. First is the Gonzales Flag, used by Texas settlers fighting under John Henry Moore (1800-1880) at the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835.
Next is the flag that flew over the Alamo in 1836. It was a Mexican flag with the eagle in the center replaced by the year 1824, in reference to the Mexican constitution of 1824. Texans were fighting in support of that constitution. The flag was created in 1835.
The third flag is the Dodson Flag, or the first Lone Star. It was designed and sewn by Sarah Dodson during the Texas Revolution.
Treasurer’s Business Office
On the first floor of the south wing is the Treasurer’s Business Office. The State Treasury served as the state bank of Texas. Officials from all state departments once made transactions with tellers sitting behind a long counter with a steel bar partition. The State Treasury moved out of the building in the 1970s, and the room was restored to its 1900 appearance in the 1990s.
One of the artifacts on display in the Treasurer’s Business Office is a check perforator dating back to about 1915. It was used to cancel checks received by the State Treasury.
Governor’s Public Reception Room
Heading up to the second floor, on the south wing is the Governor’s Public Reception Room. It’s used for ceremonies and to greet official guests. The room was closed during my visit.
Legislative Reference Library
On the north wing of the second floor is the Legislative Reference Library. Formerly a division of the State Library, it has an impressive collection that’s open to the public.
The State Library moved to its own building in the 1960s while the Legislative Reference Library remained at the Texas State Capitol.
A few important historic artifacts are on display in the library. They include the chair used by Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876) after his capture at the Battle of San Jacinto. He used the chair to write during his imprisonment at the home of Dr. James Phelps.
Another artifact is the desk of State Representative Charles B. Metcalfe (1856-1941), who worked for women’s suffrage during his four years in the Texas House of Representatives from 1914 to 1918.
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals is on the third floor of the north wing and met there until 1891, when it was split into the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals continued to meet in the room while the Court of Civil Appeals spread to different cities throughout Texas. The room, which now serves as a meeting room, was restored to its 1910 appearance during the 1990s.
Supreme Court
Finally, across the hall is the Supreme Court, which met in the beautifully decorated room until 1959. Restoration in the 1990s returned the room to its historic appearance, and preservationists were able to make exact reproductions of the carpet and drapery. The Supreme Court is now used as a meeting room.
