PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — During the legislative session season from January through March, many citizens and school children will make the trek to Pierre to see their representatives in action and admire the beautiful Capitol building and grounds.
But here are some “pro-tips” from someone who has covered the South Dakota Legislature for about a decade off and one for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, KELO.com News, and other news organizations, plus been there as a lobbyist and for other functions. There are some other things besides the geese at Capitol Lake, the Fighting Stallions Memorial, and the House and Senate chambers.
- LOOK UP AT ALL THE ARTWORK
The Capitol building is full of art and architectural flourishes. Unlike mostly sterile public buildings today, South Dakota’s founding fathers and mothers wanted the Capitol to stand out as a shrine to democracy, good government, and the aspirations of South Dakotans. Look up at the dome from the second floor rotunda. Look at the paintings of the history of the state, some in odd places. Look for the “curly-cue” architectural flourishes of the stonework. Art is everywhere.
- LOOK DOWN FOR THE BLUE TILES
Allegedly, the Italian artisans who laid the incredible terrazzo floors on all the main levels of the Capitol each left a blue tile as their calling cards. Look down at the floor to see if you can find one (or more.) Also, appreciate that the floors are 110 years and shine like they were laid yesterday. The Capitol grounds people take great pride in their upkeep of the Capitol.
- LEARN ABOUT THE SOUTH DAKOTA MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS
Just after you clear security on the first floor (north door), you’ll see an exhibit that honors all the South Dakotans who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Some names you might know, like Joe Foss. Others you may never have heard of. Take time to read the short descriptions of what the men did in defense of their country.
- SEE THE “WORLD’S OLDEST” SONIC COUPLER
I don’t know if it is or not but it’s darn old. It sits on a wooden table just outside the Capitol Press Room (more on that below) on the south side of the first floor. Members of the press haven’t used sonic couplers to file stories (send data) in probably 25 years or more, but, there it is.
- VISIT THE PRESS, GO UNDER THE CAPITOL STEPS
By chance or by accident, most of the South Dakota Capitol press corps are located in a windowless room just beyond the ancient sonic coupler. BUT WATCH YOUR STEP as you push on the big wooden doors into the 4th and 5th Estates’ inner sanctum. Immediately when you open the door, there is a six inch step painted yellow that you will stumble over. Go ahead and say “hi” to the scribes in the press room–they won’t bite, just introduce yourself and tell them KELO Radio’s Todd Epp sent you.
If you get that far, ask if you can see where South Dakota Public Radio is located. They are in what in another time would be called a dungeon–it’s dark and kind of a hole–a literal hole–that is REALLY under the steps. Then be grateful you don’t have to spend 40 days of your life under the steps.
- GO TO THE BASEMENT OF THE CAPITOL–IF YOU DARE!
Yes, the Capitol does have a basement. Much of it is a long, white hallway that connects to a door on the east side that then has a rather scary tunnel (you can’t go through the door and into the tunnel) that goes across the street to some other state office buildings. There’s also a cafe in the basement that periodically goes in and out of business.
But the main thing is JUST GO TO PIERRE and see your government at work and take in the beauty and interesting features of the state Capitol. After all, it is your (state) house!
