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The road to Jefferson City is only a couple of hours from St. Louis, but the road is flat, and the terrain is different than anything I’ve seen on the east coast. On this road, I first begin seeing flat green land with only the occasional, very small hill.


As for the Capitol in Jefferson City, we discovered why USA Today rated it the most beautiful capitol on the inside, which is not to detract from its beauty on the outside.

Tours of the Capitol are offered for free Monday through Saturday.

The Capitol exterior of the building sits above the Missouri River, and at the top of its dome is 238 feet tall. In addition to the intricate freizes surrounding the top of the building, two massive bronze statutes representing the Mississippi River and Missouri River, as well as a statute of Thomas Jefferson due to his role in the Louisiana Purchase. The 3 acre complex located in downtown Jefferson City is worth exploring without the building, as it also contains some beautiful fountains, war memorials, and other Greek statuary.

Inside the building is even more magnificent. As we entered under one of the exterior staircases, we were immediately greeted with large columns

One of the Capitol’s most famous paintings is actually a room itself.  The walls of the former House of Representatives Lounge  are an elaborate, colorful mural on the “Social History of Missouri.” This mural by Thomas Benton wraps around the room with real and ficticous persons important to Missouri, as well as the the key economic industries which have historically sustained Missouri. Completed in 1935, Benton not only included the likes of Huckleberry Finn and Missouri’s major rivers, he also included the more controversial images of Jesse James and slavery’s role in Missouri history.

After visiting this room on the tour, head up to the third floor and take a look at Missouri’s numerous bronze busts of famous Missourians.

Finally, before departing, head to the center of the capitol and see the decorative dome nearly 300 feet above containing an ornate 4500 pound chandelier.

After walking the grounds outside of the capitol, we left Jefferson City for Kansas City Bar-B-Que

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