Texas Capitol

While visiting Austin, I had a chance to check out the Texas State Capitol. It's a truly impressive structure. Access is great. And they even have free walking tours so you can get a bit of history to go with the incredible architecture!

Texas State Capitol – A visit to the Texas State Capitol is a must when in Austin. The building itself is a beautiful piece of history, with stunning architecture and impressive grounds. You can take a free guided tour to learn about the history of Texas and its government or simply stroll around the grounds and enjoy the views. The rotunda is awe-inspiring, and the building is actually taller than the U.S. Capitol! It’s a great place to soak in some Texas history, explore the surrounding park, and appreciate the grandeur of the state’s seat of government. 🌟🏛️

I recently visited the Texas State Capitol, and it was a truly remarkable experience. From the moment I approached the building, its grandeur was striking. The stunning pink granite exterior gleamed under the sun, and the majestic dome stood tall, symbolizing the pride of Texas. Inside, the Capitol's design was equally impressive. The intricate details of the rotunda and the historical artwork provided a fascinating glimpse into Texas' rich heritage. The guided tour was informative and engaging, shedding light on the building’s history and the state's legislative process. Walking through the chambers and hearing about pivotal moments in Texas history was both educational and inspiring. The grounds around the Capitol were equally beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and statues commemorating important figures and events. It was a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll or simply to soak in the historic ambiance. Overall, the Texas State Capitol is a testament to both architectural excellence and the vibrant history of Texas. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in the state's past or just looking to appreciate an iconic piece of American history.

We visited the Texas Capitol in winter time last year, and the best part is that admission is free! There were quite a lot of tourists, which added to the lively atmosphere. Finding parking was a bit tricky, but we managed to do street parking and paid the meter for about an hour and a half. When you first walk in, there’s a security check, which felt reassuring for safety. Once inside, the building’s structure is absolutely stunning, especially the ceiling—it’s really impressive. It’s a great place to teach your kids about Texas history. They’ll come away with a much better understanding of the state’s past.

Visited this grand state Capitol early 2024 and it was just stunning. Admissions was free and we walked inside the dome and even got to see the assembly chamber.

The squirrels jumping in the trees and running on the grass are the earliest Texans. My kids rolled down the sloping hills on the well-kept grass for hours. Nice little museum in the capital complex. When the weather is nice, it's one of the few nice tourist spots in downtown Austin.

Simply perfect, I was able to relive a little of the experience of visiting the Washington Capitol, everything was very beautiful, well organized, full of tributes, I recommend everyone to go, it's simply perfect!

Inside the capitol building is interesting, the architecture, the spaciousness, but I found it lacking in sharing the unique history of Texas. This is a building for running the government of the state, not a museum. But outside the capitol building, a couple of the most beautiful statues I’ve seen, The Price of Liberty, and The Vietnam Veterans. Just a mile or two from Univ of Texas campus, and also LBJ’s Presidential Library.

I visited the Texas State Capitol on a Thursday around noon and had a fantastic experience. They offer free guided tours every 30 minutes or so starting at 9:30 AM, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they even had a Spanish tour available! The tour guide, Christa, was great. She covered Texas history and various parts of the building very comprehensively. She explained fascinating details about the governor portraits, Texans who have received Medals of Honor, and significant battles. Christa also pointed out the characters in the paintings around the building, which was very helpful. The building itself is very cool-looking both on the inside and outside. There's a free parking garage nearby where you can park for free for about 2 hours. Overall, the Texas State Capitol is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, or just exploring a significant landmark in Austin.

PROS: I loved this capital building. The architect was beautiful, it was spacious, there were directories all over the place, and the staff was friendly. CONS: You can't visit the place on the weekend and naturally there's hardly any parking OVERALL: I highly recommend coming here if you're in the area. This is something I feel anybody would appreciate

The Texas Capital is a beautiful building with so much detail and craftsmanship worthy of a visit. Open daily until 8pm, visiting on a Sunday was ideal, given the plethora of street parking available for free. We decided on a simple elopement and met our officiant, photographer and 2 witnesses on the ground floor before making our way to an alcove on the fourth floor for the actual ceremony. Unlike other public spaces, we researched, there is no cost to get married at the Capitol, however you can't have any sort of set up for obvious reasons. You also need to plan ahead to clear security - again for obvious reasons, but it was absolute perfection and went off without a hitch. Even if you aren't getting married, the capitol is a beautiful building filled with history. Worth a visit even for us locals.

We visited the state capitol, it's a pretty impressive building. They offer free tours every 15 minutes which is a great way to learn about the history and asks any questions. There are four elevators to accommodate visitors who cannot take the stairs up and down. There is a restaurant inside the building. Note that you'll have to go through a metal detector. Drop by the visitor center as well for free exhibits and information about the city and cities nearby. If you wonder about parking, the capital visitors parking garage is very close and it's free for the first 2 hours, they charge after that but it's very affordable, included a photo of the fee for your convenience.

I really enjoyed exploring the Capitol. It's not something I do on every trip to a new state but this was fun and interesting. We did the free tour which was fairly quick but informative. A lot to see inside and outside. PSA: We went in peak summer and were so thirsty by the end of the tour. Capitol Cafe is nearby and had (relatively) inexpensive water bottles.

I took a group of my students on a visit to the state capitol while we were en route to a college tour at Huston-Tillotson, and it turned out to be a truly fantastic experience. The students were absolutely engaged and thrilled throughout the visit, immersed in the variety of activities and learning opportunities. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself enjoying every moment alongside them. It was a memorable day filled with exploration and excitement for everyone involved.

Enjoyed touring the Capitol Building, it was quite busy even though we arrived close to when they opened. I appreciated the free guided tours which lasted about 30 minutes. You are free to explore the Capitol on your own at anytime before, during, or after the tour. It was fun to see around the holidays as we saw the senate chamber decorated for Christmas with a tree and poinsettias.

I learned a lot about Texas and the state history. Being from another state, we don't learn much about others. They have a free walking tour of the capital that I highly recommend. I almost didn't go and I'm glad I did. A must stop and tour for history buffs. Everything is free.

The Texas State Capitol in Austin, with its dome featuring a star and the letters "TEXAS," proudly showcases the Lone Star State's heritage and independence. You'll find free street parking and quick security checks. Inside, you'll see portraits of former governors. One interesting fact is that in Texas, governors have no term limits. The beautiful architecture and historical significance make it a must-visit destination. Many people love taking photos inside and outside. It would be a delightful surprise if the current governor made an appearance to greet visitors.

Had to make a stop at Texas' Capitol Building during our stop in Austin. It's currently under renovation but handicap route to the entrance is clearly marked among all the construction. The capitol building is big (was told it's taller than the US Capitol building) and beautiful and they even have an extension of the building underground with a gift shop and restaurant. You can do a self tour and they offer free guided tours every 30 minutes at the entrance. Parking is available at the visitors lot on 12th x San Jacinto. Or on the street.

Big capital building in Austin. But I still think the dome is a bit small in comparison to many state capitals. However, they do have good area to cover for underground buildings. I like the most is most senators wearing a cowboy head during the session. Our visit has active session during capital agenda. We saw many senators and shake hand with some. When they ask me I am from which district, I am kind of Floridian. The visit will take 2 hour to complete. Street side paid parking is available. This state has two presidents. The status can be located in the building. The senators chamber is kind of small.

Austin is, of course the capital of Texas and you should make it a point to see the Capitol building (the capital but with an "o"). It's free to enter and you can look around as long as you want; however, I highly recommend you take the freeeee guided tour that they offer. You get the history and the highlights from someone who has probably given the tour five thousand times. Our tour guide was terrific and funny and knew the answers to all kinds of questions. I think the tour was about an hour long or maybe a little longer. It does involve some walking up and down stairs so keep that in mind. It probably wouldn't be appropriate or interesting for younger children. You'll get to see the House and/or Senate areas inside, both of which are very cool. Incidentally, you should make it a point to tour any capitol building you can, in any city. The one in Sacramento, California, is equally as impressive and also offers a free guided tour. The building itself is impressive, both inside and out. There's artwork and photographs and architecture and interior design galore. The gift shop is smaller than I expected but worth a quick visit. The grounds around the Capitol building are also worth touring. There are statues everywhere, if that interests you. There's a prominent one for the deceased soldiers of the Confederacy who were, of course, fighting for "states rights," according to the statue. No mention of slavery anywhere on that statue. Hmm. Take the free tour (check the website for dates and times). Remember you need to go through a metal detector in order to enter the building so leave your automatic machine guns at home.

I will admit, I wasn't super excited about visiting the Texas State Capital but I was pleasantly surprised by how extensive the history of Texas is and the building itself is quite beautiful. A lot of thought and detail went into it (be sure to look everywhere including door hinges). They offer free tours every half hour up until 3:00pm and our guide was a wealth of information and full of personality.

The Capitol Building was part of a tour we went on. It's big and it's beautiful! It's free to walk-in and tours are free too! Need to take some type of tour to get the history of both the building and the state. It's pretty interesting! Around the rotunda are paintings of every former Governor. As a new governor is added all the painting are slid over. Our tour guide had a funny joke when she said "this is the only time Rick Perry or George Bush were ever known to move to the left"!

We happened to stop in just when one of the free tours started so we jumped in. This is a cool capital. Spend maybe 1-2hrs here. Capital us super spacious with lots of halls to get lost in. It's cool to wander through here.

Interior of Texas Capitol building was worth the price of a grand *yawn*. They have portraits of all American presidents, including George W Bush who is from Texas, apparently. That's great, Georgie Boy was a great president, but I'm not certain why I should care so much that someone made a painting of it. Or for any of the other US presidents, for that matter. At least they let you go up the stairs and take some useful photos. Key word here is "useful", because I'm not sure there's anything "useful" inside the building, aside from the architecture and whatever material they used to build the stairs. Stairs are very crucial, in my opinion. They help you get places. All in all, the Texas State Capitol was a snooze fest for me in particular. They had tours every half hour on the dot, but we skipped that. Also, they don't allow dogs inside the building, which is great. Especially since we got ours. I think there was a period of time in history when colored folk (talking about people with skin of color) were similarly not allowed inside these walls of the State Capitol. Is that right? That I would've been barred entry due to the color of my skin? If so, allow me the pleasure to spit on the spotless floors that line the considerable length of this building. The only remotely interesting thing that transpired here, was our dog calmly but obstinately chasing a squirrel up a tree in the grounds outside. Also, here's the icing on the cake of disgusting vomit-sauce: They have a memorial for Texan Africans -- AKA "Slaves" -- and right next to it, lo and behold some heroic statues and a memorial commemorating the White Aryan-race "Southern Confederates" that gave their life in the Civil War. For the state of Texas. As if it's honestly worth shedding a tear for any Confederate soldier of rank, who was fighting his life away for continued Slavery of the South. Great Job Texas, and thanks for the laughs. I'll die happy if I never visit this State Capitol again. Hoorah!

Enjoyed our visit at TX state capitol. Beautiful architecture, informative portraits & paintings throughout , & free entry. There are nearby street parking & parking lot, does require a little walking to walk up to the capitol.

The Texas Capitol looks similar to other state capitols, but definitely not as ugly as some of the other state capitols I've seen lol

Free tours are offered every 15 minutes and definitely recommend since they're super informative and give you a concise history of the capitol building and of Texas generally. Beautiful building and a must-see if you're visiting Austin. Design based on the DC capitol building but larger because Everything is bigger in Texas!

Really beautiful building! I love that it's open to tour for free. You can take a self guided tour and they have a pamphlet to give you history and many maps. They also have a pamphlet for touring the grounds with maps, which is helpful! We did a free guided tour with Cliff as our tour guide. He was great! Informative and funny. I really enjoyed it!! I definitely recommend checking this capitol building out. Lots of cool history, great guided, pretty architecture, and food and drink if interested. Paintings and interesting artwork to check out, on the walls, ground, and ceiling. The parking garage is really affordable! First two hours are free and then not crazy afterward.

The Texas State Capitol is definitely worth a visit. For one good reason, it is free. Parking can be a challenge, we were lucky to find a spot on the street, but it was still a bit of a walk. There are a few entrances--where you need to go through security. They have free tours you can go on--we went on part of it. It was very informative, but we were in a bit of a rush. The main rotunda is stunning, similar to the US Capitol. There is then the Senate on one side and Representatives on the other side. Neither were in session, so we were able to look within both and they were very impressive. It is definitely worth a visit.

A trip to Austin would not be complete if I did not visit the Capitol building. There are many statues with an explanation of why they are on display. It is beautiful from the outside and the architecture is exquisite. There are many floors to the building. You will be able to see the people who work there. I wish I could say the same about the inside. Before entering, you and your belongings have to be scanned. It felt quite dark, closed off and not friendly inside. Not many rooms are opened to explore. There is a free guided tour that runs quite often during the day. I heard there was parking for visitors, but I could not find it.

Gorgeous building. When we walked through back in March 2023, there was still construction taking place. The grounds are huge and almost everything is picturesque. Upon arrival, visitors must walk through a metal detector and bags are skimmed through. Once inside, the tour is self guided so just wander throughout the building. There is a lot of history to soak up so if you're a historian then this might be a fun and intriguing place to visit. Our group of 6 spent probably an hour there and we strolled through the building at a comfortable pace. Bring the family. Bring the kids. It's a free educational experience.

I love walking the grounds of the Capitol and looking at all the sculptures and statutes and just enjoying the view of the Capitol. Sometimes I will bring a light lunch/snack and eat on a bench and watch the squirrels and enjoy the lovely breeze in the cooler months. I have taken the interior tour and highly recommend to go in and explore the areas that visitors are allowed, it is a lovely building.

Free to visit. Guided tours are also available. The main area is pretty cool. Tons of areas outside you can walk around as well. I'd like to do a tour if I visit again.

Stopped to see the Texas State Capital and so happy I did. As many have said it is free to enter and there is a free guided tour of the building. Very interesting tour with the history of the building and some of the state legislators. Was lucky to get a parking spot on the street in front of the Capital as parking seemed to be a bit difficult Should be a must stop for anyone visiting Austin.

Madison, WI and Austin, TX are similar in some ways: State capitol; home to the flagship public university; diverse ethnically since it attracts foreign students for the university. Visiting Austin for the first time, we wanted to cross off the Texas State Capitol off of our to-visit list. Easy parking garage across the street. Paid $10 for half the day and then followed the outdoor signs to the visitor center. There is active construction going on, so a bit difficult to find the entrance. Once found, the front desk attendant was helpful to plan out our day. We decided to take part in the free guided tour, which runs every half hour, starting from the main rotunda (there are a lot of signs). There are also self-guided tours available. The guided tour was fine, and would guess that the guides are volunteers and can be very different, depending on what each guide wants to show. Thus, I would take the guided tour again, if I was again in the area. It lasted about an hour, and showed the history of the building, and Texas itself. Enjoyed our walking tour of the capitol building and the surrounding buildings and outside. The visit itself was a couple of hours, and we were within walking distance to the southern part of the University. The weather wasn't too hot, so enjoyed slowly walking around, enjoying the scenery.

I must confess...as a native Austinite, I tend to take having the Texas State Capital in our "backyard" for granted. I know, horrible right?! The Texas State Capital building and grounds are really something special and I highly recommend for out of town folks AND native Austinites, like myself to visit and see it in all its glory! There are monuments to see/enjoy and benches all around the outside grounds for people to sit on. W/ huge shade trees to help give relief in our Texas summer heat (if you're brave enough to go outside ;). The outside gates are open during the evening hours (until a certain time) so you're able to walk around outside to take in the beautiful view of the majestic capital building. There is metered street parking (free depending on the time/day) and there's also bus transportation right in front of the building. I recently visited on New Year's Eve (12/31/2022) and there was a huge Christmas tree right in the front that was decorated w/ awesome lights that played to music and was the perfect photo backdrop. A visit to the Austin State Capitol really is a must-do in Austin and it's always fun, no matter if it's your 1st visit or 20th + visit! Till next time, Rebecca

Really enjoyed walking around the capital. Great venue! Not too crowded, very clean. Will have to come back again when we have more time. Highly recommend this place and the history it brings

Texas State Capitol is not gold plated like many other States. Came here a few times. Walked the same way and every time I felt good. Maybe because Texas is the State 3 presidents came from. 3! Very nice and clean you can walk around. Or follow with docent. Mostly I skipped the docent part. Winter in Texas is pretty enjoyable.

Glad we stopped in at the Capital while visiting Austin. We just walked around and were able to wander around. We were kind of surprised how we could walk around and we didn't see any security except checking in and in the House of Representatives room. A really beautiful place. So intricate. Lots of TX pride when stars everywhere!

Beautiful Capitol building. Loved the tour led by Tweed. The tours are 30 minutes and run regularly throughout the day. The tour takes you through the rotunda, the senate and/or house chambers and the new building. Highly recommended when in Austin to learn about the state history.

Austin is the state capital of Texas (TX), and TX is known for live music, food trucks, diversity and the TX State Capitol building. This review is for the Capitol, the seat of government of TX. As Austin is the state capital of Texas, the Texas State Capitol building sits on 22 acres in the center of downtown Austin on a hilltop overlooking the city. Designed in 1881 by architect Elijah Myers, construction of the building started in 1882 and was completed in 1888 as a late 19th century Italian Renaissance Revival style. A $75 million underground extension was completed in 1993. The sunset red (which is the official state color) granite building is the largest capitol building in the US, at 302.64 feet tall and is 14 feet taller than the US State Capitol in Washington D.C. Recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. The rectangular building has four stories in the center with symmetrical 3-story wings on each side and a huge dome rising from the center. It contains 360,000 sq ft of floor space, more than any other state capitol. It has 400 rooms and 900+ windows. The Capitol includes the following: * Rotunda. The rotunda floor has terrazzo mosaic displaying the seals of the 6 nations that have governed Texas. Portraits of all past presidents and governors of Texas adorn the rotunda walls. There's a massive cast iron staircase that flanks the rotunda which connects the floors of the building. Look straight up from the 1st floor and see a beautiful dome ceiling. * Senate and House of Representative chambers. The Legislature is in two wings on the 2nd floor of the Capitol, with the public galleries on the 3rd floor. The House Chamber has a brass chandelier with light bulbs that spell "Texas." * South Foyer: life-sized marble statutes of Stephen Austin and Sam Houston. * Governor's Reception Room. * Texas Supreme Courtroom. * Secretary of State Office. * Legislative Reference Library. * Treasurer's Business Office. * Agricultural Museum. * Remainder of building has office spaces. * Gift shop if you wish to buy souvenirs. * Outside grounds. The immaculate landscaped grounds have about 20 statutes and monuments, e.g., Heroes of the Alamo, Confederate Soldiers, Volunteer Firemen, etc. The lawn is massive and well-maintained. Having worked in State government in HI, my office was in the HI State Capitol for a number of years. So, I was interested in seeing the capitol in TX. Of course, it is much larger and has so much more history than HI's capitol, as HI did not become a state until 1959, and HI's capitol did not open until 1969. Gosh, the TX State Capitol is so majestically immense and is in theme of "everything is bigger in TX" with high columns, huge doors, windows, and a magnificent staircase. Not only is it huge, but it is beautiful architecturally with ornate furnishings, such as vintage light fixtures, hand-carved doors, giant carved brass door hinges and hand railings, and the iconic "star of Texas" everywhere. I was impressed that the Legislative members use wooden desks and chairs that were original to the building! And there is so much history found in this one building! Even the well-landscaped grounds were impressive, with so many statutes and monuments! It's a great place to have a picnic. While we were there on a Sunday, a youth environmental group had congregated on the grounds to provide public awareness of their efforts. You'll have to pass through a metal detector at the entrance before coming in. Free 30-minute tours are given daily or you can just do a self-tour on your own. An elevator is available if you do not want to use the stairs. Free parking for the first two hours is available in a parking garage on San Jacinto Blvd, about one or two blocks from the Capitol. There is metered street parking, and because we went on a Sunday, metered parking was free and it was right across the street. I really enjoyed the TX State Capitol! TX should be proud of its stunning architecture, amazing portraits and paintings, rare antique furnishings, and the rich history that is imbedded in it! So glad that I visited the Capitol and highly recommend it if you're in Austin!

Similarly, to other capitals or places that have rotundas. The texas state capital's rotunda is beautiful expansive and filled with amazing decor. The outside of the rotunda has a beautiful pink terracotta color and the inside is lovely bright creamy shade. The outside grounds are extensive and filled with lovely trees such as red buds and oaks. It's easily a place where you can take a walk and feel the history seeping into your bones. It is surrounded by the cacophony of the city and very close to 6th street and all the live music you could hope for. As Austin has recently grown up quite a bit in the last 20 years. You know that this place has been busy making law for the citizens of the state as well as this lovely city.

Had a really excellent time visiting the Texas State Capitol Building and Museum! They say "everything is bigger in Texas." They definitely make this capitol building a pretty grand experience. This place is steeped in history and really shows how much the state has grown and evolved through the years, from being a part of Mexico all the way to becoming a state. The rotunda gives a sense of grandeur while the many statues and displays around the capitol grounds really round out the historical aspect. Be sure to visit the capitol museum and see the scale replica of the capitol building built in Lego form! :)

They say everything is bigger when in Texas! It also includes the capitol. I believe it is bigger than the US capitol (someone correct me here, otherwise). The interior and layout is massive! I adore the star symbol. Patriotic feelings here.

I have a goal to visit all state capitals! Texas is #6. This building is beautiful. They offer tours, but we opted to do a self-guided tour. It was fun to walk around the rooms and see the little details throughout. The door hinges were my favorite part! It also was fun to wonder over to see all the composites of the Senate and House, with their mascots (aka kids and grandkids). Also, make sure to stop by the gift store to take a peak at the annual ornaments.

Located in downtown Austin, this was a beautiful state capitol building, and one of the larger capitol buildings I've visited (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=B3xuyLrmhFdh1rbn9fwJeQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). The building has been maintained very well, and was very clean. The grounds outside are also clean and neat, and there are a few monuments to view. They were busy around 4:30pm on a Sunday, but it wasn't crowded since there are so many different areas to walk around. You can stop by for a quick visit (10-15 minutes if you walk fast) or take your time walking around (we stayed for 25-30 minutes). You can walk up the staircases or take the elevator to tour the building. It's free admission to enter, but you'll need to go through a metal detector. There are numerous state troopers posted inside and outside, and all are heavily armed. However, they are very friendly and helpful, and even volunteered to take photos with my godson! Apparently, you can go partway up to the tower area, but I believe you have to take a certain staircase to get there. We decided not to go up since we had to head out for dinner, but the view is supposed to be spectacular. Take a selfie on the lower level by putting your phone on the floor and looking down into it, since it'll capture the gorgeous dome ceiling in the background (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=3zDBikdkmXqIHZ1Jg5v4UA&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). Masks were not mandatory when I visited in October 2021, and the majority of staff and visitors were not wearing masks. Hand sanitizer was available at a few spots throughout the building. Bathrooms were plentiful and clean, and they also have a gift shop located on the basement level. Parking was also easy to find that day, since there were ample street parking spots.

Taking a free Capitol tour was on my Austin bucket list, and I have finally checked it off. The 30-minute tour was informative, and the building is beautiful. It's nice to walk around and explore.

It is not often you get to visit the largest capitol in the US and receive a free tour that highlights the enormity, the history, and interesting stories behind this impressive building. The house and senate chambers were unfortunately closed when I was visiting because of the winter holiday, but there was still so much to explore, from the main rotunda and 4 floors with the governors' portraits, to the 2 underground floors and capitol extension housing the medals of honor, representative offices, and many headshots of all the previous representatives. There were lots of people when I went on a Friday afternoon, and the tour (30-45 min) had at least 20 people, but I could still hear everything, and our guide was very patient in answering all our questions and making sure everyone was together.

If you are in the area, be sure to take some time to visit the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The venue is free, and very easily accessible on Congress Ave. There are tours every half hour or so, however, i did not have a chance to partake. You have access to pretty much the entire building and all 4 floors of the Capitol. There i s an elevator, or you can walk up. Be sure to check ot the Senate and House of Representatives chambers on the second floor and well as the pictures on the wall. There is also a small gift shop and restrooms on the first floor.

*visited October 2021* Stopped by here when looking for something to kill some time, free parking and free access to building was perfect! Read a little bit about the history and admired the architecture, definitely neat to visit if you have free time or are super in to history

If you're traveling on a budget this is a great see. Able to go inside without paying a fee. Camp grounds are nicely maintained. Even though they are remodeling the outside.

After checking out the Texas State Capitol Visitors Center, I strolled through the huge front lawn area of the Texas State Capitol. Lots of statues to take pictures with and to read all about them. There was one column with names of all the men who fought in and died at the Alamo... I got emotional just by reading their names and it brought tears to my eyes. It was a really nice stroll all around. The Texas State Capitol has free guided tours. They run about 45 mins. I got a chance to join one of these tours. We had a really nice older gentleman who gave our group lots of good history. He had a sense of humor, too. Thank you sir! He first took us to the Senate Chamber and then the House of Representatives Chamber. Some of the original desks, chairs, and phones are still at work LOL. Just amazing how history is still part of our present... it gives me the goosebumps! He then took us to the extension part of the capitol... there are framed pictures of the politicians from both parties dated back to a very long time... sorry, I don't remember the earliest year. What was neat about these framed pictures is that there are also pictures of the politicians children or nieces or nephews... and some of these children followed the footsteps of their parent or aunt or uncle and became politicians themselves... that is very admirable! I had a wonderful time here. Took lots of pictures. It was a really neat place to visit. Don't miss out on visiting the Texas State Capitol when you're in Austin, TX! Tip: Do wear some comfortable shoes because you'll be walking a lot inside.

We arrived just in time for a tour. Our tour guide was Tracie and she was absolutely lovely! Very professional, warm and showed us around the capital. The tour was complementary - a wonderful way to see the capital and learn. Not to mention, getting out of the heat for a little bit! The grounds were beautiful, green and lush. Lots of stairs in the capital but if you need an elevator, they have some as well. The details here are gorgeous. All of the details in the wood everywhere from the door hinges. A must see!

This is the biggest state capital we've been to so far. Had a great time on the tour and also after the tour. Checked out the library and tried to open every door we could. Found the chapel which was cute. Soooo many paintings all over and so much history. The tour group was huge and the lady did a great job of trying to speak up so everyone could hear. The grounds outside were beautiful also and had alot of cool monuments.

On my very first visit to Austin, I knew I had to give the capitol building a looksee. I was not disappointed, and found it quite easy to visit and wander around this beautiful piece of American architecture. The capitol building is free and open to visit for the public. Parking is also free in an adjacent deck for up to 2 hours. It can also be used as a "home base" if you want to park for over 2 hours - they will charge you $1 for every additional 30 minutes. Getting inside is a breeze. Naturally, there are metal detectors as the governor and all other high level members of state government work here. After you get through, you can grab a couple pamphlets for a self-guided tour of the building and the grounds. If you have the time, and they have the space, you can also take a free 30 minute guided tour for a crash course on some Texas history and state government workings. It's super clean and kept nicely cool in the summer, thanks to the taxpayers. Not to mention the bathrooms are immaculate and open to all visitors. If you don't do the tour, make sure to visit every floor level of the atrium area and check out the progression of the paintings of the governors since the beginning of state history. Don't miss the subtle details like the intricacy of the wood carvings with stars tucked here and there, the giant detailed door hinges, and the light fixtures over the Senate and House floors. This will be a great visit for locals and out-of-towners alike. Take just a couple hours to enjoy this place - you're probably paying for it anyways.

I've been writing the Capitol letters for years now. I've never had a response. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF MY CAPITOL LETTERS. The Texas State Capitol is a magnificent and remarkable structure, which is I think the only one that is either taller or bigger then the one in Washington DC, and that's pretty amazing and pretty awesome. I think one of the best things about it is that it dominates the skyline exactly the way you would want it to, although these days they're building so many buildings around here that it's starting to get to where you can't even see the capitol from the highway, which is bizarre, because 10 years ago it was by far the most dominant thing that you would see here in the ATTIX. It's still probably one of the most amazing buildings in the state and reminds me a lot in many ways of the one in Washington DC, but with a little older border-style Texas flair that makes it pretty special.

Hey there everyone. Well, I don't know how informative I can make this review, but I'll try my best. When I stopped on by the Texas State Capitol back in September of last year...it was actually closed, or well, it was off limits to visitors. That was disappointing. Now initially I just thought that because of the pandemic, there were no tours being given. But...something tells me that may not have been the case. Because I've seen other Yelpers write reviews about the capitol building roughly around the time I was there in Austin visiting. So...I'm just not sure no tours were being given...or the fact that why they even closed off the entire grounds to the building? Oh well, I was only in Austin for a short period of time so I had to make the most of the situation. So...the next best thing I could do was just find a good angle of the capitol building for grabbing some photogenic moments. And I think that's why I've been so attracted to this capitol building located here in Austin, Texas. Because it very much reminds me of the capitol building in Washington DC. They are so similar in appearances...like twin replicas of each other. And I have been to the building in DC and there, I was able to capture some of my best and most memorable photos of Washington from the front steps of the Capitol. Not to get too far off track, but that's why I've always wanted to come to Austin...to explore what this Texas Capitol Building is all about. But unfortunately no tours were allowed and the gates to the building were completely closed as well. My only option was to do an entire circle, to walk around the state capitol complex and look for an opportunity to photograph the building without any hindrances. And the biggest obstacle without a doubt were the trees. There were an abundance of trees blocking the views of the building. Don't get me wrong. I like trees, they're terrific. But just overall it's hard to do anything especially when any accessible entrance to the capitol was blocked off. Ultimately I had to do this all from far away. But that didn't deter me. I still walked around the outside and still, yes, I was able discover a few appropriate moments to take pictures, especially one being simply right in the center of the Capitol by the front entrance. And there was one other little corner section looking upon the Capitol where I had the sun at my back. From here the building truly lit up for even being the daytime. Well, at least I was able to grab some fulfilling pictures of this place that's been on my To-Do list for a very long time. At least I can say that, lol. Well, unfortunately, I never got to take a tour. But I hope in the future if I ever return to Austin I can make that happen. Btw, for parking...I simply parked at a meter and paid a few dollars for time. I think I spent $3 or $4, not a problem at all. There's metered parking all over downtown Austin. Finally, I just want to mention that Austin, Texas is a wonderful city to visit. I highly recommend planning an extended weekend here with much to see and do including this Capitol Building, University of Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Congress Avenue Bridge and the Bat Show, Mount Bonnell, the beautiful city skyline, Rainey Street and Food Truck Row, Greetings from Austin Mural, live entertainment, parks, arts and restaurants. I tell ya, Austin is one of the best cities in Texas and quite underrated in my opinion. I'm glad I had the chance to explore it.