This building is an absolute stunner. They do offer free tours. The history of it is fascinating. It's pretty easy to navigate with plenty of directional signs and an employee at the main desk who is happy to help. The rotunda alone is fabulous. There's a cafeteria with plenty of options and a stand alone coffee bar as well. If you don't take the time to go inside you are definitely missing out. The grounds are also beautiful with a stunning fountain that may be dyed for certain months - aka pink for breast cancer awareness. There's plenty of parking options nearby. An absolute must see if you're in the area. read more

Lovely time at the guided-tour of the Capitol Building. Free 30-minute guided tours are available throughout the day between 8:30am and 4pm on weekdays, but are less frequent on weekends an holidays. Be sure to check their website to reserve a spot. After entering through the Rotunda area on North 3rd Street you will have to go through a TSA-style metal detector. You can then wait in that area for your tour to begin. There are bathrooms and a coat rack in this area if needed. Our tour guide was great. She took us through the building, offering some interesting facts of the different sections: main rotunda, House of Reps, Senate an Supreme Court. Photography is allowed but video is NOT. Great experience. Highly recommended to all visiting the area. read more

Capitol Building - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

See all

Loved it! The tour was great and I was glad to have a guide rather than a self guided one. There were times that signs said we couldn't take pictures but the guide said we could. Such a gaudy building, but so interesting. I wish there was some info about tours being mostly online reserve ahead of time rather than sign up in person. I was here for work and was in and out of the building several times and an older man in front of me was clearly confused by security. The guard really gave him a hard time and was pretty rude about it. I only expect to the level of yelling or scolding with TSA. The place could use some water bottle fillers. read more

If you're in Harrisburg, you have to stop and see the capitol building. Through the main entrance, you can see the beautiful, one-of-a-kind, rotunda for free. Beyond that, you can't roam the building freely, but there are guided tours you can sign up for. I believe you can sign up for tours on the website. There is also a decent amount of street parking around the building so that's a plus. read more

See all

I was looking for something to do in Harrisburg, so I booked a free tour because it was free but if I was busy in Hershey, I was going to skip it. There is metered street parking nearby and on the weekend, the street was pretty empty. I was pleasantly surprised though, because this is one opulent building. The sheer amount of mosaics, gold, paintings, stained glass, chandeliers, statues and marble could rival a lot of palaces. The tour was about 10 people and took us to the chamber house, senate house, and judges' rooms. All of them had so much art to look at. Even standing in the center of the building and looking up will give a great view of the ornate dome. Our tour guide did a good job talking about the pieces in each room about artist and intent. You can't see the rooms without a tour, and the tour is free, so I highly recommend viewing it. It's a shame that this probably doesn't get as often seen as art museums but it was just as extensive as any museum! Great architectural elements on the outside and inside. read more

See all

This building was amazingly beautiful. I never seen anything like this ever in my life! So many detailed murals, paintings, statues and they actually used Gold leaf for most of the decor in the building. You are welcome with a large staircase and some statues out front. The art in this building speaks volumes and explains the history and tells the story of PA which is pretty cool. Came up here because my boyfriend likes to travel to new spots he's never been to before, and this was on his list. We were supposed to go in the summer, but our trip didn't happen till recently, but glad we made the drive! I learned so much in one day about the history of the capitol building, had the chance to walk around and be a part of a tour with a handful of other people and saw where the Senate chambers, Supreme court and the house of representatives of PA handle their business. The art, and architecture in itself was worth the drive from Philly! read more

See all

Booking a tour is so worth it. Street parking only. I went on a weekend so it's guided tour only. The interior is so beautiful and great for photos. I think the tour was about 90 minutes or less. I really enjoyed some of the facts like the hassle to change light bulbs for the chandeliers and how much the electricity bills cost (before switching to LEDs) back in the day. read more

See all

I went on the free tour of the Capital Building today and I'll tell you what, it was an awesome tour I would suggest you give it a try, plus it's free. You just have to book reservations in advance on the website www.pacapital.com but to tell you the truth, they never even asked me if I had reservations, they just let me slide through along with everyone else. The Capital Building and it's surroundings is a sight you should see. I can't explain to you just how beautiful this place is better than showing through the various pictures I posted and all the others that are already posted. Check it out. read more

Capitol Building - Sight seeing by myself and it's very relaxing and beautiful. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Beautiful state capitol building. You can walk around during visiting hours or make a reservation for a guided tour. It's the 2nd building since the original capitol building burned down in a fire. This one has been here since 1906. Beautiful architecture and lots of artwork. Worth a visit. read more

Capitol Building - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

This is a stunningly beautiful building. I took a Saturday tour and the entire building was not open. I was able to see the House and Senate chambers, the Supreme Court, and of course the main rotunda. Those are the most important rooms to see. The marble, the gold, and the murals make each room breathtaking. Pictures don't even do this building justice. I will visit a couple more well known Capitol buildings to see how they compare. I will be shocked to see one any better. read more

See all

Theodore Roosevelt called it the most beautiful Capitol building in the US. I am so fortunate to be able to admire it on my daily commute! The Exterior. Its American Renaissance architecture is stunning: the dome, the marble sculptures at the main entrance, the court yard, the fountain... Its surrounding views are also marvelous: The front lines with the charming State Street all the way to the Susquehanna River. The north side borders the State Museum and State Archive. The south is integrated with the Capitol Park adjacent to the Strawberry Square. And the east neighbors the Soldiers' Grove overlooking the long array of street lamps. The Rotunda. It's a cardinal sin if you pass by the Capitol Building without going inside and behold the beauty and magnificence of the Rotunda. You don't even have to be in a tour and you can see it any day during the day time. The Tour. I don't know of any other tour that is as available as the tour of the Capitol Building. The free guided tours are conducted every 30 minutes M-F 8:30-4:00 and every 2 hour Sat-Sun 9:00-3:00. You get to see the Senate Chamber, the House Chamber, and the Supreme Court Chamber. Though dwarfed compared to the grandeur of the Rotunda, each of them are impressive in its own right. The Senate Chamber in particular, features half dozens of enormous and ornate chandeliers, Greek Corinthian columns, green marbles, stained glass windows, and crowns and trims glazed in gold. I have not experienced seeing Senate in session though. Someday I will. Parking. There are plenty of paid street parking. You can download an app and deposit more money as needed remotely. $3 per hour is quite expensive. You can park at residents' zone permit parking for free between 10:00 and 3:00 if you can find one. read more

See all

I sent a bunch of mail to this address. I guess you could say they were Capitol Letters. Pennsylvania has a resplendent and impressive Capitol building. Some are understated and some just copy the one in DC but Pennsylvania has a style and charm all its own. It's gilded in gold and I like it a lot. Not as bizarre and unusual as the one in Albany, but still as impressive. I will give it 5 stars just like I gave your mother. read more

Capitol Building - This is a capitol offence - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I'm not an avid Capitol Building tourist by any means. I've literally been to three. I do believe the Theodore Roosevelt statement, that this is the most beautiful of all Capitol buildings in the US. And to think that it was built in the early 1900s, is truly magnificent. I even got to stand in the spot near the entrance where Mr. Roosevelt once stood. I booked a 10:30am tour on the day of our tour, on a summer Monday. Tour space is limited and open up for reservation a year in advance. Guided tours are free, but just have to be booked online at: http://www.pacapitol.com/plan-a-visit/tours.cfm Our guide was Patty and she was amazing! She was a native and her mom also worked in there as she was growing up, so she literally grew up there. She told stories of the past and present. The beautiful white marble was at one time smoke stained from the smoking that was allowed in the building. Those days are long forgotten, but still part of the history. We arrived early, so we explored around on our own. There were some very cool exhibits that Patty didn't touch on, so I recommend saving a few minutes to look around on your own too. There is a civil war flag exhibit that was super cool. The Senate library is behind closed doors, but open for anyone to go in to see. The attendant in there was super nice, turned on the light for us to climb up the spiral staircase and explore it's second floor as well. After you're finished, exit the back. There is a beautiful fountain and a different view of the building that is just as beautiful. That is also the way to The Jackson House... which is where the nice gentleman in the Senate library recommended that we go for lunch. He wasn't wrong! That 5 star review of The Jackson House will come soon from me. read more

Ever since I relocated to Harrisburg almost 2 years ago, I have been in awe of this gorgeous building every time I would walk or drive by. The entire area/buildings are full of so much history, which intrigues me to say the least. There is a beautiful fountain in the back, that is sometimes dyed different colors in observance of different awareness' (pink for breast cancer awareness, etc.). The fountain overlooks Soldiers Grove where you can sometimes find food trucks....the entire Capitol Complex has so much to offer. I love history and this place didn't disappoint. It is a very beautiful building, inside and out, with amazing details and a great story. My friend and I took a guided tour on a Sunday at around 11 am and we were told by the tour guide that we were able to take pics in areas where you generally cannot (during the week when it's occupied). The artwork in this building is breathtaking, with every room you visit offering it's own unique charm. You may attend some sessions of the House or Senate if seating is available. The tour itself took about 40 minutes and is free. Security was a breeze to get through as we didn't bring anything with us except for our phones, keys and money. They are very well organized. If you are taking your own self-guided tour, there is an app you can download that can help you not to miss out on the history of the building. If you are visiting Harrisburg or are a resident and just simply haven't been here, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. They offer tours 7 days a week and you can book online up to a year in advance. They also have weddings here. read more

See all

OK, let's start with a few facts since a lot of other Yelpers are posting non-truths and crap regarding visiting the Capitol Building in Pennsyltucky. First off the Capitol for tours is NOT closed on Sunday or on weekends. No, guided tours of Pennsylvania's Capitol are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. On weekends and most holidays tours are offered at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. The Capitol is only closed for tours New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. I know this to be true since we showed up about ten minutes before the 3pm tour last Saturday and had no problems at all. You can call to make a reservation but when I asked the guide she said that outside of Spring when they get hit with a ton of school groups you should have no problem just walking in day of. Also for Ray T. who mentioned something about no floor maps, well my friend you didn't look very hard because they've got them in two brochure type racks. One off to the left towards the rest rooms and one towards the right after you walk in behind the security screening station. And if you ask, the guards/guides will be happy to paper bomb you and/or your children with all sorts of booklets regarding how bills become laws, the history of the building, etc. The format of the tour is simply that you come into the main entrance to The Capitol and go through a brief aiport-style security screening and then you hang out until your guide is ready to begin. (While you could walk around to a point and explore on your own some of the guards will get pissed off and yell at you as they did to a family of Japanese tourists so it's best you try to stick with the group.) From there you get a brief overview of the state, William Penn, the progression from the 1st Capitol to the 2nd Capitol to the current building which is the 3rd to stand on the same site (1st one burned down and 2nd one was intentionally torn down). You then will go up to the 4th floor to visit the Senate Gallery Chamber, the HOR Gallery Chamber and the Supreme Court. Our guide said the during the week you will sometimes be allowed into the Lt. Governor's Reception Room and/or the Governor's Reception Room. Some more basic facts: The current Capitol took four years to build the exterior and twenty one years to fully furnish the interior (when you see all of the marble and one of a kind artwork you'll understand why). The dome itself weighs over fifty million pounds and the entire building's cost when it opened in 1906 was $13 million dollars. Today, mostly because of the contents inside the building it has the nebulous price tag of "priceless" because a lot of what is there could not be remade/replicated in the same way. The total tour time was around 35 minutes and that was with a good size group of around 35 but then again we also had a lot of people asking questions. This to me is up there with visiting National Parks in it's a truly one of a kind experience that cannot be had anywhere else, it's arguably the nicest state capitol out of all fifty and you live in PA your tax dollars fund its continued operation so you might as well see what the hell is going on. read more

As I continue my quest to collect all fifty (fifty seven?) state Capitols, I stopped here in Harrisburg PA to view the huge capitol dome of the Keystone State. Many great men were Pennsylvania natives including our 15th President, James Buchanan. Others born here include Joe Biden, Benjamin Franklin, Newt Gingrich, and Alexander Haig. As the state that contains both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, it's quite the spot! Franklin's quote adorns the steps to the Capitol, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." As well, William Penn who founded the state on the other side of the steps, "Government is of divine origin and any government is free where laws rule and the people are a party to those laws." The building itself was designed in 1902 and construction completed in 1906. Hard to miss in downtown Harrisburg. read more

See all

Beautiful! We attended a wedding and what a beautiful area in the main tundra! Love the information everywhere that is posted. Daily tours so I'm sure we will comeback to do that! read more

See all

If go back to the turn of the century and we analyze wealth of Pennsylvania in terms of coal, steel and oil (discovered in Pa in 1859) we can imagine how their state Capitol could be so magnificent. Its cupola mimics St Peter Basilica in Rome and that is worthy model so it is OK. The stain glass and paintings done by Violet Oakley are so thoughtful and beautiful and makes you wishing for more women-artists in all the historic buildings in the world. I can say that a group of tourist would exclaim (Wow, Huh, etc..) every time the door of different chamber would open by the guide. Details are so amazing - like a perfect Moses sculpture within a one tone chandelier in the Court. This was my second time to visit it and it was as good as the first time. read more

See all

This building is an embarrassment, a paean to good old-fashioned racism, sexism, and Christian prejudice. It's also pretty shabby, and learning that representatives still do voice voting makes you wonder if anyone is paying attention at all. The tour is free, and that's a fair price. Our guide tried faking answers when she didn't know, until she was called out. She also seemed aware of all the problems with the building, but was required to sugar-coat whenever possible. And who cares about how much the lamps weigh when one could tell stories instead? read more

The Capitol Building is a nice landmark to visit and probably one of the least crowded capitols I've ever visited. After 5pm parking is free on the street. There's a park, fountain, and stairs read more

See all

The Capital Building is just breath taking. I have lived in this beautiful State of Pennsylvania and I have never toured the Capital Building located in Harrisburg, PA. We'll, today I toured this gem. They offer tours every half hour and if you can, you should sign up for a tour. My tour guild was delightful. She was pleasant and very knowledge. We started our tour in the dome. We toured the Governor's Reception Room, The House Chamber and The Senate Chamber. We could not tour the Supreme Court because they were in session. Each room was exquisite...beyond words. Please check out my photos...but photos do not do it justice. Best part..the tour is free. President Theodore Roosevelt attended the dedication of the building on October 4th in 1906. The Capital was designed in the American Renaissance style by architect Joseph Huston, who envisioned the building as a "Palace of Art." It cost $13 Million and features paintings, stained glass and furnishing that can not be valued. The centerpiece of the building is a 272 foot, 53 million pound dome inspired by Michelangelo's design for St Peter's Basilica in Rome. read more

See all

I daresay that this was the most beautiful state capitol building I have visited. The dome is so unique. The rotunda area is amazing with the Vermont Marble. I loved the murals and the paintings at the top. The detail to everything is amazing. I happened to pick a day when there were a ton of school tours, but otherwise would have loved to go on the official tour. The lady in the waiting area was super nice though and she gave me the self-directed tour map and sent me on my merry way. I hope to be able to come back and really spend some time checking out the intricacies of this national treasure. read more

I have to give this place 4 stars. it is really a great piece of work. its about 100 years old and a very very beautiful piece of work. John Harris Junior actually gave 20 acres of land to the state with the intention that they would use it to build the stte capitol there one day. you can go here any day monday through friday and go on a tour that takes about 20 minutes. they lead you all over the building and tell you the history of it. the ceiling and roof is very beautiful it has a lot of stained glass windows, from a student who studied under Tiffany. FREE ADMISSION. read more

See all

the grounds are a lovely place to stroll, don't miss the fountain in the back. The rotunda is awe inspiring. Bring the kids for a quick afternoon in a cool building. www.thecapitol.com read more

Theodore Roosevelt said it was the most beautiful capitol building he'd ever seen. Theodore Roosevelt also had several medical conditions. . . Ok, so it's not *THAT* bad, and it could be worse; and I try to think of that every day. The building itself has a gorgeous fountain and it looks amazing when you're coming across one of the bridges at night (as long as you can't see all those lights that are burnt out on the walking bridge). The ceiling inside is pretty neat too, but damn those state congressmen giving themselves pay raises. I'm almost tempted to change from 4 stars to 1 because of those jerks! Yeah. 4 stars for the architecture, 1 star beacause our state congress is a bunch of . . *insert expletive here*. 3 stars total :) read more

Take a tour! Free and awesome! Great art details in this priceless building.

A stunningly impressive and gorgeous building! A friend and I lucked out by arriving just as the last tour of the day (in this case, 3pm on Saturday) was starting. Getting in to see the Senate, House, and Supreme Court rooms/halls was well worth our time -- the beauty and intricacy of these spaces cannot be described! It's a free tour, and well worth taking if you are in the area. read more

See all

The aesthetically appealing capitol is definitely an architectural delight, especially the side with the big ol' fountain. read more

See all

This building is hauntingly beautiful from the outside! I didn't get to go inside since it was after hours but I did enjoy watching the sunset over the city while sitting on the front steps. Awesome views from this location all around. read more about my visit to Midtown Harrisburg at the link, including where to eat (hey vegans!) and an amazing bookstore/cafe just down the street from this building: http://myvisualstimulations.blogspot.com/2013/04/if-you-ever-find-yourself-in-harrisburg.html read more

Harrisburg is such a random place to visit, but if you happen to be in the area or are along the way visiting Hershey Park then the state capitol is a must! The first time I saw it, it was a Sunday so the capitol was closed. I took a look at the front and felt that it looked like all the other state capitols. Boy was I wrong. I was lucky enough to find myself in Harrisburg again and the inside is the prettiest capitol I have ever seen. The marble staircase is modeled after the old opera house in Paris! I don't doubt that it is the most opulent of all the state capitols. read more

The Pennsylvania Capitol Building is truly one of a kind. It's a veritable work of art inside and out and looked more like European palace than a state government administration building. I have only visited a handful of state capitol buildings, but after visiting the one in Harrisburg, I understand why it has been deemed the most beautiful capitol building in the nation. It's also unique in that it is the only capitol complex to house all three branches of the state government under one roof. Unlike a lot of state capitols, they offer tours here every day of the week, as listed below (and on their website). 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday 9:00, 11:00 a.m., 1:00 & 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Sundays and most holidays I really appreciate this courtesy, as I otherwise would have had to take off a day from work to visit this wonderful landmark. The tour I attended was led by a very friendly and personable guide who was chock full of knowledge about anything and everything related to Pennsylvania history. She led us through the majority of the building, providing insightful commentary along the way. There were many highlights along the way, but a few things particularly stood out in my estimation: The legislature chambers were absolutely stunning in their ornate decoration. They brought to mind the architecture of the Gilded age and boasted several massive chandeliers which hang ominously above the heads of the Commonwealth's legislators when they are in session. Apparently all of the chandeliers are still hanging by their original mounting and changing the bulbs is a costly operation which requires the construction of an elaborate scaffolding over the chamber floor. Fortunately for the good taxpayers of Pennsylvania, that only happens every few years. Also of note was the Pennsylvania Supreme Court chamber where deliberations are held at certain points throughout the year. As I learned on the tour, the Keystone State Supreme Court is a traveling court and justices split their time between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. It was so cool to visit the courtroom where so many significant rulings have been made over the years. I was just glad I was there as a visitor, rather than as a litigant! Lastly, I was very impressed by the ornate artwork which stretched from floor to ceiling in the atrium of the Capitol building. From the meticulous tile work by Doylestown's own Henry Mercer to the beautiful murals which curved around the walls to the resplendent dome at top, the building is a true masterpiece of architecture and art. The only minor issue I had with the Capitol tour was its short length and the breadth of topics covered in such a limited amount of time. The tour guide really whipped through the material at lightning speed and I did not have as much time in each area of the building as I would have liked. Not really something I can hold against the kind folks giving the tours considering they have to stick to a schedule and since the tour is free of charge, but it would have been nice to be able to take things in at my own (slow) pace. All the more reason to return, I guess, and I will definitely be back soon. I would highly encourage anyone within reasonable driving distance to make the day trip to Harrisburg to make a visit. read more

I went to Harrisburg not knowing the Capitol is open for tours. Wanting something else to do someone suggested I check out the Capitol Building. I checked on line and sure enough public tours. Unfortunately I missed the last tour but someone said you can go inside anyway. One word architecture. This building blows anyone away. From the spiral staircase to the hallways just a gem. On a self guided tour I got to walk all the way to the top of the dome and stand outside many offices in many hallways. I saw the doors to both the Senate and House chambers. I was for the most part alone. Outside I walked around the building's porch taking in views of the river. I'm not upset I missed the tour because I'm satisfied with what I saw. read more

Capitol Building - Dome from the inside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

See all

The building is beautiful and takes you a little back to Europe. Other than the comic relief that the white marble statues at the main entrance provide, they look out of place with the overall architecture. The memorial fountain to the war veterans behind the capitol shows a nice blend of architecture styles. The staircases were impressive from an architectural perspective and also aesthetically. The whole downtown seems dead on Sunday so good day to check out the free Capitol tour. read more

Absolutely gorgeous building with so much history. A must-see for Pennsylvanians and out-of-staters as well.

The building itself is gorgeous. Skip the guided tour, it's not very informative (or maybe our guide wasn't knowledgable). Do some research and explore on your own, wander around the lobby and ourside for some terrific views. Just don't expect there to be anyone at the "Welcome Center" to help if you have questions. read more

I've toured and sung here on multiple occasions. I'm always in awe of the architecture and the acoustics. It's dripping with history. And who doesn't love the fountains in the back??!! Definitely have a look see any time you can. read more

Stunning and beautiful Capitol building, it reminded me of the one in Austin, but on a smaller scale. It was in the winter, so parts of the park and outdoor sections were closed due to ice and snow, but the building still looked stunning. It's pretty quiet around the area, so it's perfect to take pictures without anyone interrupting. The best views are from that avenue directly in front of the Capitol leading to the river. read more

The free tour was great. This building is beautiful inside and out and we could see why it's voted the most beautiful capitol building in the U.S. read more

9/5/2013 The capitol building, outside and inside is quite attractive. Symbolism abounds and it seems taxpayer money was not spared in the building nor the art that adorns it. Thr rotunda is beautiful, as is the staircase. We wandered all over the capitol opening doors here and there. Gallery viewing of the Senate and House of Representatives rooms was the only way to see these rooms; there was no floor access. The Supreme Court was closed and only viewable with a guide. We didn't take the guided tour. Sadly, undlike many other capitol buildings, no floor map was available. All we were given was a map of the entire governmental complex. We could have taken a guided tour, but find that these are generally rushed and not always informative and rarely fit our schedule. We prefer to tour on our own. read more

What a great tour and it's FREE. We spent about 45 mins on this tour and were amazed and informed throughout the entire tour. We took all 6 of our kids and everyone agreed one of the best tours we have ever done. read more