TITLE: Commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Texas State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Texas State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Texas State Capitol is 125 years old in 2013, and this special anniversary represents a fitting opportunity to celebrate a truly unique Texas landmark; and WHEREAS, The fourth capitol building in Austin, it is a striking example of Renaissance Revival architecture that was modeled on the U.S. Capitol and financed by a grant of three million acres of land in the Panhandle; it is constructed out of red granite quarried in Burnet County and transported to Austin by a specially built narrow-gauge railway; and WHEREAS, The project's final feature, a statue of the Goddess of Liberty, was placed atop the dome on February 26, 1888, and on April 21, the Capitol was opened to the public for the first time; it contained 392 rooms, 18 vaults, 924 windows, and 404 doors; the furnishings for the house and senate chambers were installed in 1889; and WHEREAS, Over the next century, the Capitol was frequently updated and renovated; impressive paintings of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto were installed in the early 1900s, a post office opened in the building in 1908, and in 1922, an electronically controlled voting apparatus was set up in the house chamber; throughout the years, monuments to Texas cowboys, war veterans, and Tejano pioneers have been among the statues situated on the Capitol's grounds; and WHEREAS, In February 1983, a fire severely damaged the Capitol's East Wing and led to the creation of the State Preservation Board, which developed a master plan for a major restoration of the building; work began in 1990 for a 665,000-square-foot underground annex, and over the next seven years, the Capitol's exterior, interior, and grounds were extensively renovated; the Capitol was rededicated on April 21, 1995; and WHEREAS, Today, the State Capitol serves both as the seat of government in Texas and as a destination for visitors from across the state and nation and around the world, who come to appreciate the building's beauty and dignity and to learn about the fascinating history of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Texas State Capitol. Guillen Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1161 was adopted by the House on April 17, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House