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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 South Foyer and Rotunda of the building.
South Foyer
First of all, the South Foyer has been the main entrance to the Texas State Capitol since the building opened in 1888. It was restored to its historic appearance in the 1990s, except for the crushed marble terrazzo floor installed in 1936 for the Texas Centennial. The floor commemorates 12 important battles fought on Texas soil during the Texas Revolution, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War.
Some important works of art grace the South Foyer. To the left of the entrance is the Surrender of Santa Anna by William Henry Huddle (1847-1892), painted in 1886. It depicts Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876) on the morning of April 22, 1836, wearing the uniform of a private soldier in an attempt to avoid capture. A wounded General Sam Houston (1793-1863) sits under an oak tree surrounded by 30 other historical figures.
On the opposite side is another work by Huddle, David Crockett, painted in 1889. It’s a portrait of Davy Crockett (1786-1836), a hero who died defending the Alamo.
At the entrance to the Rotunda are two white marble statues. To the left is a statue of Sam Houston and to the right is Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836). Both statues were sculpted in 1901 by German-born artist Elisabet Ney (1833-1907). They were unveiled at the capitol on January 19, 1903.
Rotunda
The Rotunda of the Texas State Capitol sits directly under the dome. It features a floor containing the seals of the six nations to govern Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. The walls are adorned with the portraits of past presidents of the Republic of Texas and state governors.
The dome rises 218 feet above the floor of the Rotunda. It contains a sheet metal star measuring eight feet from point to point, surrounded by letters spelling the word TEXAS.
The upper floors of the building contain a balcony around the Rotunda, providing great views down to the floor.
Finally, on the day I was at the Texas State Capitol, there was a choral concert on the floor of the Rotunda. It was a nice way to finish my visit to the building.
