Kentucky became a state in 1792. With offers of a log house as capitol for seven years, of a number of city town lots, of numerous locks and hinges, of ten boxes of glass, of 1500 pounds of nails and of $3000 in gold, Frankfort was chosen as the state's capital. Current capitol initially completed in 1910.
The giant clock was built in 1961 and is thirty-four feet across. The planter weighs 100 tons and plantings change with the seasons. There must have not been a season when I was there.
were found in several locations on the Capitol grounds. The season is not right for plantings at the time of my visit.
The mansion is just east of the Capitol; currently, it is being remodeled.
On the first floor of the capitol several cases as this one exist; they contain figurines of Kentucky's First Ladies as the state's official hostesses.
From the second floor a view of the rotunda with Abe Lincoln in the center, Jefferson Davis in the left rear and Ephraim McDowell. All were born in Kentucky. McDowell is probably least known, he was a pioneer in surgery in the frontier era. In 1809 he successfully removed a large tumor from a woman's abdomen.
The Supreme Court consists of seven justices representing separate geographical regions of the state. Each is elected to an eight year term.
The capitol is undergoing repairs; at the time of my visit this must be the primary point of repair.
