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The Capitol - The Senate Chamber
The
Senate Chamber was criticized by those who considered the expenditures excessive. However, the
Senate Chamber is one of the finest in the United States and was decorated at a cost of nearly
$141,000 in 1885. The round windows, imported from France, on each side are a combination of
faceted and stained glass. In theory the glass was to accentuated the rays of light to appear
as rays of the sun, but most of the glass had to be painted over because the light was not satisfactory.
Costly marbles and woods richly decorate the Senate Chamber. The lower wall, just above the baseboards, is a grayish blue marble from Belgium and is a very unusual color of marble. Above this, running horizontally around the room, is a panel of onyx from Old Mexico, referred to as precious stone. White marble above the onyx is Italian Carrara. Marble over the door is from Tennessee and is very ornate.
There are twenty-eight bronze columns, all hand-cast with designs of morning glories and roses. The bases of the columns, are black cast iron grill work.
The senators' desks are hand-made from native Kansas woods and stained dark oak. The president's rostrum is made of Honduras Mahogany as are the double doors at the entrance of the chamber.
Capitol Building
The Senate Chamber