Thursday, March 4, 2010

State Library of Iowa

Recently I took some time to visit the old State Historical Building in Des Moines. Several years ago a new historical building was built and this building became the State Library of Iowa. A lot of money was spent to renovate this building.



Yet to us native Iowans who are over 50, this will always be the real historical building. As children we took many field trips to see this building -- which still retains its official name plate.



As school kids, we always went to both the historical building and the state capitol. They are just across the street from each other.



Like its new twin sister across the way -- the Iowa Judicial Building -- this building has a beautiful Jeffersonian dome.



The brass and wrought iron through the building gives it an authentic look.



But the real beauty is found in all the stained glass windows. They seem to be everywhere. Here's one accenting the elevator.



This one is over a doorway.



But there are three huge stain glass windows as you go up the stairs that are incredible. I could not get them in one photograph. Here is a portion of the center one. See the Civil War scene in the background?



Here's a view of two of the large windows.



One of the side windows represents art.



Another represents literature.



But the middle one represents history. Unfortunately the photographs do not do these windows justice, but you get the idea.



Sometimes the most interesting sights are close to home. It had been over 30 years since I had been in this building. It made me think of other places close to home I should visit.

Thanks for stopping by.

10 comments:

Cloudia said...

Iowa is a lovely and civilized place!

Thank you-

Aloha, my Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Jo said...

Those stained glass windows actually take my breath away. I showed them to some of my co-workers today, and they all gasped. The two that represent Art and Literature are just stunning, as is the one representing History. My goodness, yes, I think you need to visit more places like this in Iowa, and show us the pictures.

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely building! Stained glass always takes my breath away.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Pauline said...

A pity that much of the architecture of today is not as beautiful, nor built to last as those two buildings are. And how true that we often don't pay enough attention to the very places in our back yard that attract the tourists. Thanks for sharing.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful building that builders of today should pay more attention to. Very similar to our capitol buildings in Olympia.

As to the daffodils on my blog: the Skagit Valley farms growing Tulips, Daffodils and Irises are the largest in the world, and flowers and bulbs are sold all over the world. MB

Barbara said...

I always thought of Iowa as one big corn field. Who knew there was so much beauty? I guess you did. Thanks for educating me!

Anonymous said...

Love your pictures. That's a beautiful building and those stained glass windows are stunning!

Hilary said...

What a beautiful building - inside and out. I love your around town posts.

Small City Scenes said...

Hello again.

Come visit my birds. MB

Small City Scenes said...

Hi again!!

You got spammed-- better get it off.

thanks for visiting my blog and commenting about 'urban sprawl'. Fortunatel I live a ways away as you do. I live up in those hills you see in one of those pics. I am very fortunate. But I have seen all this happen..
Crazy birds, yes! MB