Interior view of a grand, ornate building with a domed ceiling, large chandeliers, gold accents, marble columns, and decorative paintings and sculptures.
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State Capitols

To learn more about each of my state capitol visits, select a state from the menu on this page.

  • As the site of the first Confederate capitol and one of the most memorable speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the fight for voting rights, the historical significance of the Alabama State Capitol makes this a must-see for history buffs. The highlight is the Avenue of Flags, which features flags and native stone from each state. Read More

  • The Alaska State Capitol is located in Juneau, which is so remote it cannot be accessed by car. Read More

  • The dome’s similarity to the U.S. Capitol makes the Arkansas State Capitol a desirable filming stand-in. Don’t miss the gift shop, which features local products. Read More

  • Housed in the largest state capital city in the nation, the Arizona State Capitol includes a museum documenting Arizona’s transformation from territory to state. It also features a massive model train exhibit and U.S.S. Arizona exhibit. Read More

  • The California State Capitol is a lively building with historic offices of the governor and legislature, including a view of the governor’s office after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It sits in Capitol Park, which includes trees and shrubs from around the world. Read More

  • The Colorado State Capitol dome is covered in real gold leaf to commemorate the Colorado Gold Rush. Make sure to locate the “One Mile Above Sea Level” marker on the west steps. Read More

  • The Connecticut State Capitol is a stunner inside and out. This is one of the most beautiful capitol buildings nationwide. Read More

  • The Delaware Legislative Hall is a distinctive building that captures the northeastern aesthetic of our first state. It is surrounded by landscaped gardens and is an easy walk through downtown Dover to The Green. Read More

  • The Florida Capitol Complex is a mix of the old and new. The Historic Capitol is a museum that has been restored to its 1902 glory. The larger, more imposing new capitol towers behind and is where the magic happens today. Read More

  • The Georgia State Capitol was one of the first buildings to have elevators, centralized steam heat, and lights. The dome is covered in gold leaf from Lumpkin Co., GA, the site of the first American gold rush. Read More

  • VISIT PENDING: The HawaiI State Capitol’s unique architecture and open atrium make this a unique capitol building. Can’t wait to see it. You can plan your visit in the meantime. Read More

  • VISIT PENDING: The Idaho State Capitol is located in the Land of the Smurf Turf. You can plan your visit in the meantime. Read More

  • The Illinois State Capitol is a true beauty that is rich in artistic detail. While Springfield’s major tourist attractions are related to Abraham Lincoln, make sure to visit this amazing building. Read More

  • The Indiana Statehouse was specifically designed to hold the entire state government in one building and is one of only few that has all three branches under one roof. The unique octagonal dome is the gem. Read More

  • The Iowa State Capitol is an architectural gem that features a sparkling dome covered in 23-carat gold. It includes a model of the battleship U.S.S. Iowa. Read More

  • The Kansas State Capitol (also known as the Kansas Statehouse) includes a museum and amazing murals that capture Kansas’ complicated history. Read More

  • The staff at the Kentucky State Capitol is among the friendliest in the nation. Don’t miss the Floral Clock, a working clock and garden in one. Located in one of the smallest capital cities in the U.S., this capitol captures Frankfort’s small town charm. Read More

  • The tallest capitol building in the United States, the Louisiana State Capitol is a unique beauty. Stroll through the equally beautiful Capitol Gardens. Read More

  • The staff at the Maine State House are very friendly, and they’d love to see you. It is pretty remote there so they love visitors from faraway lands. The building is pretty, too. Read More

  • The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol building in operation. It is where George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army and the American Revolutionary War officially ended. Read More

  • Overlooking Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House is the second stop on the Freedom Trail. Read More

  • Though a little plain on the outside, the Michigan State Capitol is a treasure on the inside. Read More

  • The Minnesota State Capitol was a lively place the day I arrived. They were just wrapping up an antique car show on the front lawn with Somali Day in the rotunda. I got a personalized tour of this one. Great day in Saint Paul! Read More

  • The Mississippi State Capitol was featured in The Help and is way more stunning on the inside. Read More

  • Overlooking the Missouri River, the Missouri State Capitol features a gallery of busts from the many famous people who called Missouri home. The grounds are amazing. Read More

  • VISIT PENDING: The Montana State Capitol art depicting Montana’s history. I can’t wait to see it. You can plan your visit in the meantime. Read More

  • The Nebraska State Capitol is as unique as the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, the only one in the nation, which was in session the day I visited. Read More

  • The Nevada State Capitol building is hidden behind lush trees in a state capitol that is a hidden gem. It’s a metaphor for Nevada itself. Read More

  • One of the smallest state capitols I have toured, the New Hampshire State House is home to The New Hampshire House Chamber, the largest state legislative body in the United States. It’s on Main Street in Concord, which has a wealth of local restaurants and businesses, so plan on staying a while. Read More

  • This is the only state capitol that does not allow self-tours, so plan your visit accordingly. The New Jersey State House is also the only state capitol building that is visible from another state. Read More

  • The New Mexico State Capitol is the only round state capitol building in the U.S. It is located in the highest and oldest state capital city in the nation. Read More

  • One of the most unique state capitols, the New York State Capitol is a mammoth, so make sure to plan on spending some time here. Read More

  • While the majority of state business is now conducted elsewhere, the North Carolina State Capitol and grounds resemble a courthouse square. Read More

  • While not the most aesthetically pleasing capitol building, the North Dakota State Capitol gets very high marks for access. I was able to stand at the podium on the floor of both the Senate and House. Don’t miss the museum next door. Read More

  • Located in my mother’s home state, the Ohio Statehouse features a cupola that resembles a drum rather than a dome. American and Ohio state flags constructed from flowers greet visitors on the east side of Capitol Square. Read More

  • This state capitol complex is the only one in the U.S. with active oil rigs. Oklahoma State University Day during my visit made things lively. Read More

  • VISIT PENDING: The Oregon State Capitol recently reopened after renovations. I am planning a springtime trip to see the cherry blossoms. You can plan your visit in the meantime. Read More

  • Overlooking the Susquehanna River, the Pennsylvania State Capitol is one of my top visits. This is my father’ s home state and a state I visit frequently. The rotunda here is one of my favorites. Read More

  • For such a small state, the Rhode Island State House is quite grand, with a dome that is the fourth largest structural stone dome in the world. Read More

  • The lobby at the South Carolina State House is simply wow! The grounds surrounding the building feature a number of monuments, some controversial. Read More

  • The capital city is Pierre (pronounced PEER). Now that we got that out of the way, the South Dakota State Capitol is a pretty building and there is a park nearby. Make sure to stop on your way to the Black Hills. Read More

  • The Tennessee State Capitol sits on Capitol Hill, the highest point in Nashville. If you arrive from the wrong side, you’ll assume you will burn your quads. Breathe a sigh of relief by entering through Charlotte Avenue. You’re welcome. Read More

  • Everything is bigger in Texas. Located in my home state, the Texas State Capitol is the largest state capitol building in the nation. It’s grand inside and out. Make sure to go to the Visitor’s Center located at the southeast corner of the grounds for a fantastic Lego replica! Read More

  • The Utah State Capitol offers amazing views of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Mountains. Guarded by The Capitol Lions, this amazing building has exhibits throughout and is large. Fortunately, it’s open seven days a week. Read More

  • Located in the smallest state capital in the nation, the Vermont State House reflects the friendliness and charm of one of my favorite states. It sits against a wooded hillside, which made for stunning outside photos. Read More

  • VISIT PENDING: The Washington State Capitol is where we learned Santa will take us to hell. I promise to investigate further. You can plan your visit in the the meantime. Read More

  • The West Virginia State Capitol overlooks the Kanawha River and features a distinctive gold dome that makes it visible upon approach to downtown Charleston. Read More

  • Located in one of my favorite cities, the Wisconsin State Capitol is the jewel of the Madison Isthmus. The rest of downtown Madison is easy walking to the banks of two lakes and shopping on State Street. Make a day of it. Read More

  • While Wyoming is the least populous state in the U.S., the Wyoming State Capitol is an easy road trip from Denver, CO, and, therefore, one can you can't kick down the road. Read More

My initial travel goal was to visit all 50 states. While meaningful on its own, I wanted a way to document my progress.

What do all 50 states have? A capitol building.

I love visiting beautiful buildings, so this makes a lot of sense for me. As of this writing, I have been to 44 state capitol buildings. I have achieved this goal in a relatively short period of time because of the frequency and distance of my road trips, but this is a goal you can meet at a pace that works for you.

To learn more about each of my state capitol visits, select a state from the menu on this page. All photos included here are Annie All Around originals. I only offer my own personal stories and photos about each visit since that content will be unique to Annie All Around.

State Capitols Passports

You can document your journey using State Capitol Passports. Each capitol has a unique stamp for your passport that includes the state name and a unique design that captures the state’s personality. Stamp locations differ from capitol to capitol, so keep this handy as you travel.

If you are interested in ordering one, my go-to vendor for the State Capitols Passport I use is the Arkansas State Capitol Gift Shop. I ordered extra passports for gifts from them, and they arrived in just a few days.

If you visited a capitol before obtaining your State Capitols Passport and do not plan on returning, you can request replacement stamps from the passport book maker that you can affix to your passport.

On a few occasions, I have made a return trip to a state capitol to add a stamp I did not receive during a previous visit. If you have documented the date of the previous visit, the state capitol staff is usually willing to stamp your passport with the previous visit date as long as stamp dates go back that far.

Plan Your Trip

If you want to learn more about the building histories or plan your visit, I link directly to the capitol websites to ensure you get the most current information straight from the source.

Hours

Make sure to confirm business hours for each capitol before arriving and plan your travels accordingly.

There are some capitol buildings that are open outside of business hours; it has been my experience that stamp locations are manned only during typical U.S. business hours (a few have Saturday hours as well). For example, the Utah State Capitol is open to the public seven days a week, but the stamp is in the Visitor’s Center, which is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking

If you are driving, make sure to confirm parking details before arriving, especially if you are arriving in a busy, congested city. For most state capitols, you will have easy access to a parking garage, parking lot or streetside parking (usually for a small fee). But for more congested areas, you will do well to look at a mapping application to confirm details in the area, especially if time is a factor.

Also, try to confirm if there is construction or special events in the area that might affect access during your visit. For example, my first attempt to visit the Virginia State Capitol was thwarted with a late arrival plus the rude awakening that the surrounding streets were blocked off.

Security

With a few exceptions, be prepared to go through security. The protocols are different in each state, but in general, be aware of what is in your purse, wallet, or pockets and be cooperative with security personnel, who are generally friendly and welcoming (and usually know where the passport stamp locations are).

Security can also depend on if a state legislature is in session during your visit. While it is a great time to see state business, these are also times the building will be busy and security tighter.

Active Legislative Sessions

Sometimes, the day of your visit will be during an active legislative session. If so, plan to stay a little longer—this is a real treat! In many cases, you can sit in the gallery of the legislative body in session and see state business in person, but make sure to follow the rules, which are either posted clearly or ably communicated by capitol staff at entrances. These rules vary by state and chamber. Also, security will often be stricter during active sessions.

Typical Photography

 On a typical state capitol visit, I make sure to photograph the following (if available):

  • Dome

  • Senate and House chambers

  • Areas of aesthetic or historical interest

  • Surrounding grounds/gardens

"Capitol” vs. “Capital”

Using “capitol” is limited to references to a building or group of buildings where state or federal business is conducted. “Capital” is used to refer to the city where a capitol building is located. For more information, please refer to Merriam Webster.

Engage with Capitol Staff

People who work in capitol buildings are generally friendly and welcoming, especially if you are an out-of-state visitor. Make sure to speak to them as long as they’re not busy with an event or session. Not only can they provide personal stories about their time there and insights about their building, they are also excellent resources for local shopping, coffee and food. In some instances, I have found some more than willing to provide a personal tour if there is no legislative session.

Gift Shops and Postcards

Many capitol buildings have gift shops that range from ordinary to pretty amazing, so make sure to bring money. I always buy postcards for family members and magnets, ornaments and other neat items for myself.

Speaking of postcards, my mother is a retired postmaster, so she is particularly interested in the cancellation stamp. To ensure that the stamp was from the actual capitol city, mail it from a post office within the city limits. Even better, mail it from the capitol building itself if it has a mail drop box. I highly recommend buying a roll of postcard stamps from the United States Postal Service before you leave so you are always prepared to mail a postcard on the spot.