Cool place to visit. Did you know it's taller than the US Capitol? . Today they even let us throw a dance party on the steps. A new Republic Of Dance is taking over the Republic Of Texas and I'm all for it. BTW, they do have tours and a great cafeteria too! I enjoy watching the sessions for the house of Representatives read more

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We enjoyed the free Capitol tour. Our guide was excellent! She provided the right amount of humor and history to keep everyone's attention. My favorite highlights were learned about the moving of governor portraits, the house senate and rep halls, the six flags of Texas and relation to "Six Flags", and the story behind the stone that the Capitol was made out of. Definitely a unique attraction we stumbled upon and I would recommend to others visiting Austin. Not to mention, save some time and enjoy a lunch picnic on the inviting grass in the courtyard and garden. read more

Texas State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Looking for something free and informational to do in Austin? Visit the State Capitol building. On a recent visit to Austin, I had the opportunity to spend about an hour and a half perusing the Capitol building with a friend. We parked at the public parking garage located about a block away. Once you enter the building, be prepared for a brief security check at entrance - similar to going through TSA, you'll put your items through the scanner and walk through a metal detector. There were several groups that showed up during my visit but overall it was not too busy. There was a sign that noted that free tours were given at what appeared to be on 15-minute intervals. Due to our limited time, we opted to get a self-guided tour brochure and just walk around on our own. I enjoyed perusing the halls, Senate room and House room at my own leisure, though I imagine that I would have learned more if we were with a tour guide. The architecture is gorgeous and lends itself to a very historical feel. The finer details of stars and "Texas" in the ceiling lights was a nice design touch. At the time, there were some who were busy at work in some of the various offices and others that looked to be completing maintenance in the Rooms for the House and Senate. After finished our inside tour, we went outside and walked around the grounds. There are a few monuments to see and the park area around the building provides a beautiful, scenic view. The weather was great and I image that if we had more time, it would have been nice to sit for a bit and bird watch for a bit. The two people that we interacted with, the lady that explained the free and self-guided tours and the security guard at check-in, were both friendly and helpful. It was a worthwhile experience. read more

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I love when traveling and seeing new places that I could end up in the town of it's states capitol. I loved seeing the Texas state capitol in person. It's very big that even the visitors center is across the way. I think it is definitely worth it visiting here once if in Austin. It is the state capitol and one of the prettiest buildings in Austin. read more

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Went to a protest to allow my kids to experience a flashpoint in their history. While at the Capitol we did some sight seeing. Walking the lawn of the Capitol we seen some very interesting and historic monuments. Surrounded my state police dressed like I.C.E. agents, unfortunately, we peacefully protested and got a few honks from passing motorists. It was a really good experience. read more

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The State Capitol building and surrounding parkland is beautiful and fascinating. The layout of the grounds leading to the entrance has bronze statues with historical facts and information. Texas became the 28th State in the USA in December 1845. Prior to that date, it was its own Independent Republic from 1836 to 1845. The first floor has metal detectors to gain entrance. The building is circular in design. From the center of the building you can look upward to see a beautiful glass dome, it tops the 4 story building, which is an impressive 300 feet tall. We were able to enter the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers and take photographs without a flash. You must remove your hat (I was relieved everyone complied without complaining). Our Tour Guide gave us a mini history lesson, she was very knowledgeable and answered questions from the guests. I particularly enjoyed the Second Floor where portraits of each Former Governor are on display. There are too many to mention, so I focused on the first female Governor, Miriam A. Ferguson. She served two terms (1925 to 1927) and (1933 to 1935). I have lived in California all my life and we have NEVER had a female Governor. The details of the beautiful wood and marble furnishings and overall design show the Texas pride! Admission and guided tours are free. Sincerely, Rosemary (Southern California) read more

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What a fascinating building, it was so nice to visit. Free to the public and right in the heart of Austin. Parking is tricky but it's around. The grounds outside of the capitol building is beautiful and a great place to stop and enjoy the city and even a great place for a picnic. read more

Texas State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The state capitol visit was very informative and fun. To see where governors legislators senate work and see the architecture of the building was very cool. read more

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We were recently enjoying a long weekend in San Antonio when we realized the Texas state capitol building was just an hour away. Since we've been on a quest (ok, quest might be a strong word for it) to see all the state capitol buildings in the US, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to make the drive to check it out. It's currently undergoing some sort of restoration so there was a lot of scaffolding around. Also, it is certainly the most heavily guarded capitol buildings we've been to (like, wow). Beyond that, it's great. The building itself is one of the larger capitol buildings we've seen. It's made with a stone an interesting shade of rusty reddish. The inside of the dome is amazing with a lone star at the tippy top (it is the lonestar state, after all). It wasn't our favorite capitol building, but we were glad to have made the trip to check it out. read more

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Definitely worth a visit. It's a classic domed capitol building. Note the bits of flair like the light fixtures that spell out TEXAS, the unique door hinges, and the portaits all around. Be sure to either join a free tour offered regularly on a walk up basis or at least pick up a self-guided booklet at the first floor south entrance. The tour moves quickly, can be crowded on busy weekends, and can be hard to hear in places. The grounds are lovely as well, with lots of monuments also explained with self-guided booklets. read more

The Texas State Capitol is a stunning historic site. There is renovation work done currently and we found it a bit challenging to navigate with a mobility aid, as accessible routes weren't always clear and we ended up having to manually lift ours through multiple sets of stairs to get into the building. We're hopeful that with a few updates, it can become a more welcoming experience for all visitors. We enjoyed our tour and highly recommend. The a tours are free so make your reservation, which is not hard to get. The outside green landscape area is beautiful and has many worthy photo opportunities. We enjoy coming here wherever we have visitors in town wanting to see the State Capitol. read more

Texas State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is my second time at the Texas State Capitol. The first time I visited was in 2019 on a solo trip (and on a weekday). I had walked around on my own, though in retrospect I did not realize that there was the underground extension. Fast forward 6 years later, I came back here with my girl and her family to see this. They opted for the guided tour whereas I went back and did everything on my own. It was through the guided tour where I learned about the underground extension. All in all, there isn't that much to see here. Most of the rooms are not accessible since they are offices for the members of the Texas Senate & House of Representatives. You can, however, go all the way up a to the 4th floor and get some interesting viewpoints. When I came in 2019, I sat in a legislative session, so that would be cool to do, I imagine. The underground extension are mostly office spaces as it is. But you can also see photos of all the members of the Texas Senate & House during the respective terms from way back when to just about now. read more

Texas State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

We visited the state capitol, it's a pretty impressive building. They offer free tours every 15 minutes which is a great way to learn about the history and asks any questions. There are four elevators to accommodate visitors who cannot take the stairs up and down. There is a restaurant inside the building. Note that you'll have to go through a metal detector. Drop by the visitor center as well for free exhibits and information about the city and cities nearby. If you wonder about parking, the capital visitors parking garage is very close and it's free for the first 2 hours, they charge after that but it's very affordable, included a photo of the fee for your convenience. read more

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A great way to experience and brush up on the history of the State of Texas. It is quite unique among the 50 states. You will see statues of Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, and a painting of Davey Crockett (king of the wild frontier). Take the tour. You will see the two houses of state governance, a huge painting / favorable rendition of the battle for Texas independence and photos of Texas governors, W, Rick Perry, Richards, and more. The Statue of Liberty fits inside the dome which is a few feet taller than the US Congress. read more

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3stars -Review only for the tour not the building or history. I came with my husband and infant for the free tour at 3:30 on May 28th. The tour guide was visibly annoyed when he thought the tour was only for 5 people but right as he stared to speak a family of about 7 came and joined in. He cursed under his breath, rolled his eyes and was just off after that. He was rolling his eyes when my infant started babbling during his speech. He kept getting info incorrect and would then start over, he made horrible jokes, he didn't wait for those of us who needed to use the elevator to continue the tour... all in all a horrible tour and I learned nothing. A few people actually left early. read more

My husband and I decided to walk to the Texas State Capitol building when we had some free time visiting Austin. As we walked inside, we found a free tour was starting in 10 minutes so we joined the group. We were escorted around the building and the guide was very knowledgeable explaining the different paintings, sculptures, and rooms. We walked past the portraits of current and former governors and lawmakers. We walked into the Senate and House Assembly chambers. We were shown downstairs to the different hallways. We looked up inside the rotunda and spied the Texas stars decorating the rooms. It's a beautifully designed building. Our guide was enthusiastic regarding Texas history and gave us a nice tour. If you're in town, check out the Texas State Capitol for a quick history lesson. read more

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I really enjoyed exploring the Capitol. It's not something I do on every trip to a new state but this was fun and interesting. We did the free tour which was fairly quick but informative. A lot to see inside and outside. PSA: We went in peak summer and were so thirsty by the end of the tour. Capitol Cafe is nearby and had (relatively) inexpensive water bottles. read more

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Visited the Capitol for the first time. Capitol Visitors garage parking lot about 2 blocks from the Capitol. "Vehicles properly displaying an official disabled parking placard or disabled parking license may park at parking meters within the Texas Capitol Complex for free." Daily Rates Weekday: Parking is free for the first 2 hours. $1 for each half hour thereafter. Maximum daily charge is $12. No Overnight Parking. Weekend: Parking is sometimes free but is subject to pre-paid fees for special events. The maximum daily charge varies up to $25. No Overnight Parking. The well manicured grounds offer lots of shade trees along the sidewalks. A major roof replacement project was in process during our visit. Docent tours and independent walkthroughs are available. Capitol Grille restaurant conveniently located in the Capitol offer a variety of reasonably priced menu items with restaurant seating, large Legislative Reference library open to the public, historical artifacts, and seating throughout to rest. "The restored 1857 General Land Office building, located on the southeast corner of the Capitol Grounds, serves as the Capitol Visitors Center. This three-story, castle-like structure stands as the oldest state office building in Texas. Recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1962 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970." read more

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Had to make a stop at Texas' Capitol Building during our stop in Austin. It's currently under renovation but handicap route to the entrance is clearly marked among all the construction. The capitol building is big (was told it's taller than the US Capitol building) and beautiful and they even have an extension of the building underground with a gift shop and restaurant. You can do a self tour and they offer free guided tours every 30 minutes at the entrance. Parking is available at the visitors lot on 12th x San Jacinto. Or on the street. read more

Texas State Capitol - The dome from the inside. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Big capital building in Austin. But I still think the dome is a bit small in comparison to many state capitals. However, they do have good area to cover for underground buildings. I like the most is most senators wearing a cowboy head during the session. Our visit has active session during capital agenda. We saw many senators and shake hand with some. When they ask me I am from which district, I am kind of Floridian. The visit will take 2 hour to complete. Street side paid parking is available. This state has two presidents. The status can be located in the building. The senators chamber is kind of small. read more

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My husband and I visited the Texas state capital. It was an amazing wonderful experience that I recommend for every Texan! The history here can be felt. Texas pride can be felt. Texas integrity can be felt. The attention to detail that was exhibited in the construction of this fabulous historical building is amazing. Even the jams on the doors were intricately decorated with the Texas star. There are armed guards throughout the capital and that made me feel safe, although I have no reason to feel unsafe. Everyone here was kind and considerate and taking pictures for one another. There's no strangers in Texas. We're all friendly Texans! I love that about Texas! There's many floors and it is awesome to look at them. There are photographs of all of the governors of Texas, including our beloved George Bush! There's a painting of Davy Crockett. He looked much different in my imagination. He was such a hero! They have wonderful statues in the grounds and the grounds are very well kept and beautiful and Green. I wanna go back for a guided tour so I can learn more about our capital and our state history. I highly recommend you visit. read more

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Security screening is required (similar to an airport bags checked, metal detector), but it moved quickly and the staff were polite and efficient. I felt completely safe the entire time; the place is well monitored, open to the public, and has a welcoming vibe. As a woman, I never felt uncomfortable or out of place plenty of other visitors, including families, couples, and solo folks like me. read more

I learned a lot about Texas and the state history. Being from another state, we don't learn much about others. They have a free walking tour of the capital that I highly recommend. I almost didn't go and I'm glad I did. A must stop and tour for history buffs. Everything is free. read more

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I took the 30-minute tour, and it was very informative. I really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about the building and its history. read more

The Texas Capital is a beautiful building with so much detail and craftsmanship worthy of a visit. Open daily until 8pm, visiting on a Sunday was ideal, given the plethora of street parking available for free. We decided on a simple elopement and met our officiant, photographer and 2 witnesses on the ground floor before making our way to an alcove on the fourth floor for the actual ceremony. Unlike other public spaces, we researched, there is no cost to get married at the Capitol, however you can't have any sort of set up for obvious reasons. You also need to plan ahead to clear security - again for obvious reasons, but it was absolute perfection and went off without a hitch. Even if you aren't getting married, the capitol is a beautiful building filled with history. Worth a visit even for us locals. read more

Enjoyed touring the Capitol Building, it was quite busy even though we arrived close to when they opened. I appreciated the free guided tours which lasted about 30 minutes. You are free to explore the Capitol on your own at anytime before, during, or after the tour. It was fun to see around the holidays as we saw the senate chamber decorated for Christmas with a tree and poinsettias. read more

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Austin is, of course the capital of Texas and you should make it a point to see the Capitol building (the capital but with an "o"). It's free to enter and you can look around as long as you want; however, I highly recommend you take the freeeee guided tour that they offer. You get the history and the highlights from someone who has probably given the tour five thousand times. Our tour guide was terrific and funny and knew the answers to all kinds of questions. I think the tour was about an hour long or maybe a little longer. It does involve some walking up and down stairs so keep that in mind. It probably wouldn't be appropriate or interesting for younger children. You'll get to see the House and/or Senate areas inside, both of which are very cool. Incidentally, you should make it a point to tour any capitol building you can, in any city. The one in Sacramento, California, is equally as impressive and also offers a free guided tour. The building itself is impressive, both inside and out. There's artwork and photographs and architecture and interior design galore. The gift shop is smaller than I expected but worth a quick visit. The grounds around the Capitol building are also worth touring. There are statues everywhere, if that interests you. There's a prominent one for the deceased soldiers of the Confederacy who were, of course, fighting for "states rights," according to the statue. No mention of slavery anywhere on that statue. Hmm. Take the free tour (check the website for dates and times). Remember you need to go through a metal detector in order to enter the building so leave your automatic machine guns at home. read more

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The Capitol Building was part of a tour we went on. It's big and it's beautiful! It's free to walk-in and tours are free too! Need to take some type of tour to get the history of both the building and the state. It's pretty interesting! Around the rotunda are paintings of every former Governor. As a new governor is added all the painting are slid over. Our tour guide had a funny joke when she said "this is the only time Rick Perry or George Bush were ever known to move to the left"! read more

Texas State Capitol - Looking up! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I visited the Texas State Capitol on a Thursday around noon and had a fantastic experience. They offer free guided tours every 30 minutes or so starting at 9:30 AM, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they even had a Spanish tour available! The tour guide, Christa, was great. She covered Texas history and various parts of the building very comprehensively. She explained fascinating details about the governor portraits, Texans who have received Medals of Honor, and significant battles. Christa also pointed out the characters in the paintings around the building, which was very helpful. The building itself is very cool-looking both on the inside and outside. There's a free parking garage nearby where you can park for free for about 2 hours. Overall, the Texas State Capitol is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, or just exploring a significant landmark in Austin. read more

I took a group of my students on a visit to the state capitol while we were en route to a college tour at Huston-Tillotson, and it turned out to be a truly fantastic experience. The students were absolutely engaged and thrilled throughout the visit, immersed in the variety of activities and learning opportunities. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself enjoying every moment alongside them. It was a memorable day filled with exploration and excitement for everyone involved. read more

Texas State Capitol - Inside capital - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Interior of Texas Capitol building was worth the price of a grand *yawn*. They have portraits of all American presidents, including George W Bush who is from Texas, apparently. That's great, Georgie Boy was a great president, but I'm not certain why I should care so much that someone made a painting of it. Or for any of the other US presidents, for that matter. At least they let you go up the stairs and take some useful photos. Key word here is "useful", because I'm not sure there's anything "useful" inside the building, aside from the architecture and whatever material they used to build the stairs. Stairs are very crucial, in my opinion. They help you get places. All in all, the Texas State Capitol was a snooze fest for me in particular. They had tours every half hour on the dot, but we skipped that. Also, they don't allow dogs inside the building, which is great. Especially since we got ours. I think there was a period of time in history when colored folk (talking about people with skin of color) were similarly not allowed inside these walls of the State Capitol. Is that right? That I would've been barred entry due to the color of my skin? If so, allow me the pleasure to spit on the spotless floors that line the considerable length of this building. The only remotely interesting thing that transpired here, was our dog calmly but obstinately chasing a squirrel up a tree in the grounds outside. Also, here's the icing on the cake of disgusting vomit-sauce: They have a memorial for Texan Africans -- AKA "Slaves" -- and right next to it, lo and behold some heroic statues and a memorial commemorating the White Aryan-race "Southern Confederates" that gave their life in the Civil War. For the state of Texas. As if it's honestly worth shedding a tear for any Confederate soldier of rank, who was fighting his life away for continued Slavery of the South. Great Job Texas, and thanks for the laughs. I'll die happy if I never visit this State Capitol again. Hoorah! read more

Texas State Capitol - Capitol building - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Really beautiful building! I love that it's open to tour for free. You can take a self guided tour and they have a pamphlet to give you history and many maps. They also have a pamphlet for touring the grounds with maps, which is helpful! We did a free guided tour with Cliff as our tour guide. He was great! Informative and funny. I really enjoyed it!! I definitely recommend checking this capitol building out. Lots of cool history, great guided, pretty architecture, and food and drink if interested. Paintings and interesting artwork to check out, on the walls, ground, and ceiling. The parking garage is really affordable! First two hours are free and then not crazy afterward. read more

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The Texas State Capitol is definitely worth a visit. For one good reason, it is free. Parking can be a challenge, we were lucky to find a spot on the street, but it was still a bit of a walk. There are a few entrances--where you need to go through security. They have free tours you can go on--we went on part of it. It was very informative, but we were in a bit of a rush. The main rotunda is stunning, similar to the US Capitol. There is then the Senate on one side and Representatives on the other side. Neither were in session, so we were able to look within both and they were very impressive. It is definitely worth a visit. read more

Texas State Capitol - Rotunda - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Gorgeous building. When we walked through back in March 2023, there was still construction taking place. The grounds are huge and almost everything is picturesque. Upon arrival, visitors must walk through a metal detector and bags are skimmed through. Once inside, the tour is self guided so just wander throughout the building. There is a lot of history to soak up so if you're a historian then this might be a fun and intriguing place to visit. Our group of 6 spent probably an hour there and we strolled through the building at a comfortable pace. Bring the family. Bring the kids. It's a free educational experience. read more

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Beautiful capitol of Texas. Plenty fo parking available around. It was under construction when I visited. Hope by the time you visit, all constructions would have been completed by then. read more

Texas State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I will admit, I wasn't super excited about visiting the Texas State Capital but I was pleasantly surprised by how extensive the history of Texas is and the building itself is quite beautiful. A lot of thought and detail went into it (be sure to look everywhere including door hinges). They offer free tours every half hour up until 3:00pm and our guide was a wealth of information and full of personality. read more

I must confess...as a native Austinite, I tend to take having the Texas State Capital in our "backyard" for granted. I know, horrible right?! The Texas State Capital building and grounds are really something special and I highly recommend for out of town folks AND native Austinites, like myself to visit and see it in all its glory! There are monuments to see/enjoy and benches all around the outside grounds for people to sit on. W/ huge shade trees to help give relief in our Texas summer heat (if you're brave enough to go outside ;). The outside gates are open during the evening hours (until a certain time) so you're able to walk around outside to take in the beautiful view of the majestic capital building. There is metered street parking (free depending on the time/day) and there's also bus transportation right in front of the building. I recently visited on New Year's Eve (12/31/2022) and there was a huge Christmas tree right in the front that was decorated w/ awesome lights that played to music and was the perfect photo backdrop. A visit to the Austin State Capitol really is a must-do in Austin and it's always fun, no matter if it's your 1st visit or 20th + visit! Till next time, Rebecca read more

Texas State Capitol - 12/31/2022 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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PROS: I loved this capital building. The architect was beautiful, it was spacious, there were directories all over the place, and the staff was friendly. CONS: You can't visit the place on the weekend and naturally there's hardly any parking OVERALL: I highly recommend coming here if you're in the area. This is something I feel anybody would appreciate read more

The Texas Capitol looks similar to other state capitols, but definitely not as ugly as some of the other state capitols I've seen lol read more

Texas State Capitol - Road to the Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

We happened to stop in just when one of the free tours started so we jumped in. This is a cool capital. Spend maybe 1-2hrs here. Capital us super spacious with lots of halls to get lost in. It's cool to wander through here. read more