Texans like to say everything is bigger in Texas — and their Capitol proves it. Completed in 1888 from sunset-red granite quarried in the Hill Country, the Texas State Capitol stands 302 feet tall, a proud 14 feet taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The building is as welcoming as it is grand. Free guided tours run daily, leading visitors under the soaring rotunda — where the terrazzo floor maps out Texas history — into the historic House and Senate chambers, and past portraits of every leader since the Republic of Texas days.
Outside, 22 acres of shaded lawns hold monuments to firefighters, cowboys, the Alamo heroes and Texas children, making the grounds a history walk in their own right. The Capitol Visitor Center, in the restored 1857 General Land Office building, adds hands-on exhibits for curious minds of all ages.
Sitting at the top of Congress Avenue, the Capitol anchors downtown Austin with timeless confidence. Whether you come for the architecture, the history or a picnic under the oaks, it is a landmark that makes the whole state smile.
