8/11/2019 Secrets of the Capitol, page 1 - The Patriot-News - Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2014

SECRETS

CAPITOL

INSIDE | ANNE REEVES: HOW PIES CAN HELP CURE CANCER, PAGE D12 l MUST-SEE MOVIES COMING OUT THIS FALL, PAGE D5

Ahidden passageway. Under-

ground tunnels. Historic

treasures. A bullet hole. And so

much rich folklore.

Pennsylvanias Capitol, designated a

National Historic Landmark in 2006,

is considered one of the best examples

of American Renaissance architecture in the U.S. It also

offers a lot of l ittle-known secrets that even people who have

worked there for years dont know exist.Many intriguing sites in and around the Capitol are

omitted from public tours or require special permission

to access. PennLive/The Patriot-News set out to uncover

secrets that lie within and around the historical buildings

where legislators, lobbyists, staffers, visitors and reporters

roam on an almost daily basis.

In my travels around the Capitol Complex in the last

couple of months with photographer Christine Baker, I

discovered more hidden treasures worth sharing. J.M.

Uncover many mysteries that lie within the history

of Pennsylvanias most notable building

STORYBYJAN MURPHY,JMURPHY@PENNLIVE.COM| PHOTOSBYCHRISTINE BAKER,FORPENNLIVE

Walking into the Capitol rotundais breathtaking, with its col-orful artwork and 23-carat gold-leafaccented features that lead your eyeheavenward. Few know about a tun-nel running through the dome, sepa-rating the ornate inner shell from theouter one that you see poking intothe city skyline.

This 4-foot-wide passagewayinside the 52-million-pound dome,modeled after St. Peters Basilica inRome, is taller than one might think.Christopher Ellis, the Capitol Pres-ervation Committee senior preser-vation project manager, who is 6 feet6 inches tall, could easily make hisway around without worrying about

hitting his head.When I first learned about this

passageway, I was told it used to beincluded in the public tour of theCapitol. Visitors were permitted totrudge through the brick passagewayas well as walk along the brass rail-lined ledge that encircles the baseof the inner dome. From there, theycould gaze down at the marble stair-case and the tiled floor and enjoy aspectacular view of the rotundas fullgrandeur from their perch 122 feet up about 12 stories.

The tiled floor, which includes 377mosaics by Bucks County craftsmanHenry Chapman Mercer, is the largestpiece of artwork in the Capitol.

DONT MISS MORE

PHOTOS, STORIESFor more on the secrets ofthe Capitol, visit PennLive.com and see Pages D2-4:

Governors favorite spotsin the Capitol.

Urban legends andparanormal activity.

Buried history andforgotten treasures at theTreasury vault.

Attractions not men-tioned on public tours.

Jan Murphys observa-tions about visitors to anddetails at the Capitol.

BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF THE ROTUNDA

THE ROTUNDA PASSAGEWAY