The old 1949 plaque is inside, the new 2009 one is outside. The old magnolia is pearl, the new one is white. The old sign is a lot more readable, but nonwhites had to read a separate but equal sign instead.


Coming up Capitol St. to the building, and the reverse side in brick. It's very unusual to see a building that's half stone and half brick, but the reverse manages to be impressive in its own right despite not having an entrance.


Stonework detail and looking west across State St. (US 51). Capitol St. was old US 80, making this unequivocally the center of the city. (US 49 was mixed in there too.)


The very Masonic Monument to the Confederate Dead of Mississippi. Quite a mouthful.


The guy on top of the monument and the guy inside. They all look like Jefferson Davis to me. I don't think any Southern monument is allowed to use any other likeness.


Assorted details as I enter the building and look right and left. The ornamental light covers are found in many places. There are also, as you'll see, quite a few ornamental column capitals.


Looking up from there. The dome isn't just gilded, it's multicolor.


Looking up from one of the side hallways.


The House chamber (Mississippi's government mimics the Federal one). I'd appreciate it more without the plaster men hanging around. The dome flowers appear to be the same, though set differently, but the capital is appreciably different. (Capitol capitals - ha!)


Over to the Senate chamber, more elaborate with two different column types, including the only Ionic style among a sea of Corinthian variations. (I think I was attracted to the shiny gold bits.) The rug would not be out of place on the walls and ceiling of a Volkswagen Minibus.


The Supreme Courtroom (can I say that?) with a simpler column and what I mentioned before, patterned light covers. (Presumably, there were once lanterns up in there, pre-Edison.) This is the only room that promised to hold period furniture from the actual Capitol.


Last room, the library, of course with yet another column style. No wonder it took 6 years to build (judging from the two old signs on top of the page).

See more of Jackson (including the modern Capitol)

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