Kansas State Capitol

Modeled loosely on the national Capitol, Kansas's statehouse in Topeka took some thirty-seven years to complete, from 1866 to 1903, and is topped by a copper dome that visitors can climb via a narrow interior stairway to an outdoor observation deck. Inside, murals include John Steuart Curry's dramatic depiction of the abolitionist John Brown, arms outstretched amid a Kansas tornado, one of the most famous state-capitol paintings in the country. Recently restored, the building offers dome tours revealing the ironwork and views over the plains.