Who works at the Capitol?
Who is on the horse statue in front of the Capitol?
How tall is the statue?
Where did the floor tile come from and what do the pictures mean?
How is it decided where representatives sit in the House Chamber?
How big is the Capitol dome?
When can I visit a legislator’s office?
Does it cost money to tour the capitol?
What do legislators do?
How many rooms are there in the Capitol?
How does the fountain work?
How many light bulbs are in the chandeliers in the House chamber?
What is the difference between the PA Legislature and the
U.S. Congress?
How big is the statue on top of the Capitol?
Has there ever been a woman governor in
Pennsylvania?
 

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Who works at the Capitol?

There are three branches of government – legislative (legislature), executive (governor) and judicial (court) -- all located in the Capitol. Elected officials, along with their staff members, work at the Capitol and surrounding office buildings.

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Who is on the horse statue in front of the Capitol?

The equestrian statue of General John Frederick Hartranft by sculptor F.W. Ruckstuhl stands in front of the Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building. Hartranft (1830-1889) was a General during their Civil War who went on to become Governor of Pennsylvania in 1873.

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How tall is the statue?

It is 29 feet high and it cost $18,000 to design and build. It was installed at the front steps of the Capitol Building in May 1899, and moved to its present location in front of the Ryan Building in 1927 as part of a construction project that added the grand staircase to the front of the Capitol.

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Where did the floor tile come from and what do the pictures mean?

The floor is laid with Pennsylvania-made tiles, produced by Doylestown craftsman Henry Chapman Mercer. There are 377 mosiacs, representing 254 scenes, found in the flooring on the main floor of the Capitol. They are set chronologically, beginning with symbols of Native American life and artifacts and ending with such “modern devices” as the automobile and telephone.

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How is it decided where representatives sit in the House Chamber?

Republicans are seated on the right (as you stand in the gallery and face the front of the House Chamber) and Democrats are on the left. Representatives with the least seniority are seated in the middle (“more cramped”) of the rows of seats, with representatives who have more seniority seated in the outside (“better”) seats.

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How big is the Capitol dome?

It rises 272 feet from the ground and weighs 52 million pounds.

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When can I visit a legislator’s office?

Legislators’ offices are open during regular business hours, however legislators may be busy and not available to visit unless prior arrangements have been made.

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Does it cost money to tour the capitol?

Tours are free; there is a small gift shop in the East Wing where visitors may purchase mementos. More information on tours  

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What do legislators do?

They are responsible for making the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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How many rooms are there in the Capitol?

There are more than 600 rooms in the Main Capitol Building.

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How does the fountain work?

The 68-foot wide fountain in the plaza behind the East Wing is controlled by a computer.

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How many light bulbs are in the chandeliers in the House chamber?

There are more than 1,000 light bulbs in the six chandeliers in the House Chamber. There are two large chandeliers (each weighing more than an adult elephant) and four smaller ones (each weighing more than an adult hippopotamus). All of the light bulbs are changed every three years.

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What is the difference between the PA Legislature and the U.S. Congress?

State legislators make laws only for Pennsylvania. Members of the U.S. Congress – there are 21 from Pennsylvania (two senators and 19 representatives) – make laws for all 50 states.

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How big is the statue on top of the Capitol?

“Commonwealth” is a 17 ½ foot, three-ton golden bronze statue designed by architect Roland Hinton Perry. A few years ago it was cleaned, restored and regilded and then flown by helicopter to the top of the Capitol dome.

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Has there ever been a woman governor in Pennsylvania?

Hannah Penn, wife of Pennsylvania founder and owner William Penn, served as proprietor (legal governor) after his death in 1718. She had a stroke in 1721, but continued to work until her death in 1726. The Hannah Penn Middle School in York, Pa., is named for her.

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