State Capitol Trip

Today we drove down to the Oregon State Capitol Building for a homeschool event that happens there every year.
Boyson is studying state history for in this last quarter, and he needs to write a report about a historical place to send to Seton, so this was a great time to go. The kids both really learned a lot.

We went on a tour of the building, including a trip to the tower (yes, up there where the gold man is!).

This is a bronze replica of the state seal embedded in the floor of the rotunda of the building.

This is a close-up of the "gold" Oregon Pioneer on top of the building. He carries a single-blade ax and a tarp for shelter, both essential tools of the early pioneers. There is a viewing deck at the top of the building. The climb is about 121 stairs, most of them spiral. The statue is hollow, and made of bronze. He is gilded in gold leaf and stands 24 feet tall.

This is St. Joseph Catholic Church, just blocks from the Capitol building. (the smaller red brick building with the steeple, not the concrete building)There are five trees here on the campus of Willamette University, the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. Willamette University is just across the street from the capitol. The guide told us that if you stand in the middle of the five trees and look up, you will see a star.

And here's the star!


A view of the Walk of the Flags from the tower.

And down in front of the Walk of the Flags. All 50 state flags are flown here.

The fountain in front of the Capitol Building.

Another fountain out in front.

A friendly little squirrel that came right up to me. I didn't have anything to give him though!

And the souvenirs we brought home.