♪ ♪ EVERY FOUR YEARS FOR OVER A CENTURY, A STATUE KNOWN AS LADY KENTUCKY HAS WATCHED FROM HER PERCH HIGH ON A MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE IN FRANKFORT OVERLOOKING A CELEBRATION OF KENTUCKY'S DEMOCRACY.

IT IS INAUGURATION DAY, AND THIS BUILDING IS THE STAGE FOR THE STATE'S BIG EVENT.

THOUSANDS HAVE COME FROM AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH TO WATCH THE PARADE OF BANDS AND MILITARY UNITS ESCORT THE GOVERNOR-ELECT TO THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

WHILE THIS SPECTACULAR STATEHOUSE PRESENTS A STUNNING BACKDROP FOR THE DAY'S FESTIVITIES, IN A FEW HOURS, IT WILL FULFILL THE PURPOSE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR 100 YEARS AGO.

IT IS THE WORKPLACE FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR AS HE OR SHE JOINS LEGISLATORS AND JUSTICES AS THEY CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT FROM THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY, KENTUCKY'S STATE CAPITOL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART FOR THE KET ENDOWMENT OF KENTUCKY PRODUCTIONS.

>> Renee: ON JUNE 1, 1792, KENTUCKY WAS ADMITTED AS THE 15th STATE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING, IN A LOG HOUSE IN LEKD LEXINGTON, NEWLY ELECTED STATE REPRESENTATIVES MET AND ISAAC SHELBY WAS INAUGURATES AS THE STATE'S FIRST GOVERNOR.

THE NEXT ACTION FOR THIS FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS TO CHOOSE WHICH CITY WOULD BE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FOR THIS NEW STATE AND HOME TO THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL.

SEVERAL CITIES WOULD VY FOR THE RIGHT TO BE THE CAPITAL OF KENTUCKY.

LOUISVILLE, FRANKFORT AND LEXINGTON.

THE CITY OF FRANKFORT WOULD BE CHOSEN FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

>> WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT FRANK SFORT IS THAT IT-- FRANKFORT IS THAT IT USED TO BE MUCH LARGER THAN IT IS TODAY.

IT WAS COMPARABLE IN SIDES TO LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

THE RIVER WAS A GREAT CATALYST.

MANY STEAM BOATS AND ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDUSTRY CAME DOWN THE RIVER TO FRANKFORT.

FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, WE HAD HEMP MAKING INDUSTRIES.

WE HAD TOBACCO.

WE LATER HAD WHISKEY AND BOURBON SO IT WAS CENTRALIZED IN THE STATE AND IT JUST BECAME POPULAR THAT FRANKFORT WOULD BE THE CAPITOL.

>> Renee: WITH ISAAC SHELBY AS GOVERNOR, KENTUCKY HAD CHOSEN A NATURAL LEADER.

HE WAS A MILITARY HERO FROM MANY BATTLES PRIOR TO AND DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

HIS STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP WAS PROVEN AS THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF ESTABLISHED IN FRANKFORT.

INDEED, GOVERNOR SHELBY WOULD PERSONALLY CHOOSE KENTUCKY'S STATE MOTTO FROM HIS FAVORITE REVOLUTIONARY SONG, THE LIBERTY SONG.

>> AMERICANS BY UNITING WE STAND, BY DIVIDING WE FALL ♪ >> Renee: WHILE THE LOG HOUSE IN LEXINGTON WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MET IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST STATE CAPITOL, IN ITS HISTORY, KENTUCKY HAS HAD FOUR PERMANENT CAPITOL BUILDINGS.

THE FIRST WAS BUILT IN 1794 ON A SITE IN DOWNTOWN FRANKFORT.

IT WOULD SERVE THE COMMONWEALTH FOR 19 YEARS WHEN IT BURNED DOWN IN 1813.

A SECOND CAPITOL WOULD TAKE ITS PLACE ON THE SAME SITE, BUT WOULD HAVE AN EVEN SHORTER LIFE OF 11 YEARS, SUFFERING THE SAME FATE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE IN 1824.

A THIRD, MORE SUBSTANTIAL STATE CAPITOL BUILT WITH KENTUCKY LIMESTONE, WOULD RISE ON THE SAME SPOT WHERE IT STILL STANDS TODAY.

NOW KNOWN AS THE OLD STATE CAPITOL, IT WAS DESIGNED BY KENTUCKIAN GIDEON SHIROC AND TO THIS DAY, MAINTAINS THE ELEGANCE OF HIS GREEK REVIVAL DESIGN.

>> THE REALLY INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS BUILDING IS THAT IT WAS DESIGNED BY A YOUNG MAN WHO IS 24 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS HIS FIRST COMMISSION.

HE WAS GIVEN $150 PLUS THE COMMISSION TO BUILD THE BUILDING.

AND HE DESIGNED IT TO LOOK LIKE A GREEK TEMPLE, TO REPRESENT DEMOCRACY.

>> Renee: DOMINATED BY SIX ICONIC COLUMNS, IT WOULD RISE HIGH OVER DOWNTOWN FRANKFORT.

ITS CENTER PIECE WAS A BEAUTIFUL SELF SUPPORTING DOUBLE STAIRCASE THAT LED TO THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

>> THE STAIRCASE IS THE ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY REMEMBERS FROM THEIR FOURTH GRADE HISTORY TOUR OF THE OLD STATE CAPITOL.

IN CONSIDERING THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, THAT HE FIGURED THIS OUT ALL IN HIS HEAD, USING MATH AND PHYSICS TO DO THIS FREE STANDING STAIRCASE, EACH PIECE IS LAID ON TOP OF THE OTHER AND THEN THERE IS A KEYSTONE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE STAIRCASE THAT HOLDS THE SEMICIRCULAR STAIRCASE IN PLACE.

>> Renee: IN 1869, AN ANNEX WAS BUILT NEXT TO THE CAPITOL FOR MUCH NEEDED OFFICE SPACE.

BUT 30 YEARS LATER, THE OLD STATE CAPITOL HAD BECOME OUTDATED FOR THE DEMANDS OF THE APPROACHING 20th CENTURY.

THE MOVE FOR A NEW CAPITOL WOULD BE LED BY GOVERNOR J.C.W.

BECKHAM.

IRONICALLY, IT WAS AN EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE OLD CAPITOL IN EARLY 1900 THAT WOULD PLACE BECKHAM IN THE POSITION TO CALL FOR A NEW CAPITOL.

THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION OF 1899 HAD BEEN CONTENTIOUS AND WILLIAM GOEBEL, WHO HAD LOST THE ELECTION BY JUST 2300 VOTES TO REPUBLICAN WILLIAM S. TAYLOR, CLAIMED THAT VOTING IRREGULARITIES HAD OCCURRED.

HE CHALLENGED THE RESULTS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE ISSUE WAS HOTLY CONTESTED; ANGERING AN ALREADY DIVIDED PUBLIC.

>> GOEBEL WAS WALKING UP THE FRONT SIDEWALK TO THE BUILDING COMING FOR THE HEARINGS AND A SHOT WAS FIRED FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE, WHICH WAS IN THE ANNEX, THE STATE CAPITOL ANNEX.

GOEBEL FELL RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

>> Renee: THE SHOOTER WAS NEVER CAUGHT.

STILL ALIVE, GOEBEL WAS MOVED TO THE NEARBY CAPITOL HOTEL.

THE NEXT DAY THE ELECTION WAS OVERTURNED, DECLARING GOEBEL THE WINNER AND J.C.W.

BECKHAM BECAME LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WILLIAM GOEBEL WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE ON HIS DEATH BED.

THREE DAYS LATER, BECKHAM WOULD STEP INTO THE OFFICE OF THE ASSASSINATED GOVERNOR.

IN A SPEECH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TWO YEARS LATER, BECKHAM ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR A NEW STATE CAPITOL.

>> IT IS A FACT APPARENT TO ALL, ESPECIALLY TO VISITORS FROM OTHER STATES WHO COME TO YOUR CAPITOL, THAT IN THE MATTER OF CAPITOL BUILDINGS, KENTUCKY IS FAR BEHIND THE OTHER STATES.

EVEN THOSE OF MUCH LESS WEALTH AND POPULATION.

>> Renee: SEARCHING FOR FUNDS TO BUILD THE NEW CAPITOL, BECKHAM SENT C.C.

CALHOUN OF LEXINGTON TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO LAY CLAIM TO FEDERAL FUNDS DUE KENTUCKY FROM DAMAGES SUFFERED DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE COMMONWEALTH MADE IN THE RECENTLY FOUGHT SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

A CHECK FOR OVER $1 MILLION WAS AWARDED THE STATE.

IN 1904, KENTUCKY'S LEGISLATURE WOULD APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS AND PLANS TO BUILD THE NEW STATE CAPITOL COULD NOW MOVE FORWARD.

AN ARCHITECT WAS CHOSEN.

FRANK PLILS ANDREWS.

ANDREWS HAD ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS AN ARCHITECT OF LARGE BUILDINGS AND HOTELS KNOWN FOR UNIQUE CHARACTER AND ORNATE DESIGN, INCLUDING A HOTEL ABOUT TO OPEN IN LOUISVILLE.

AFTER THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, A WAVE OF NATIONAL PRIDE SWEPT THROUGH THE UNITED STATES.

AMERICANS WERE PROUD OF THEIR GOVERNMENT TAKING ITS PLACE ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

AND THIS PRIDE WAS REFLECTED IN THE BUILDINGS WHERE THEIR GOVERNMENT WORKED.

FRANK ANDREWS PLANS FOR THE NEW CAPITOL MATCHED THAT PRIDE AND WERE GRANDIOSE.

THE LARGE FOOTPRINT FOR HIS DESIGN REQUIRED A NEW SITE AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN FRANKFORT.

40,000 DOLLARS WAS SET ASIDE TO BUY WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE HUNT PROPERTY IN SOUTHERN FRANKFORT.

THE HUNT PROPERTY WAS A LARGE FLAT FARM OF 33 ACRES THAT INCLUDED A HORSE RACETRACK AND OVERLOOKED THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

BEFORE HE WOULD START BUILDING HIS VISION, ANDREWS HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF DIRT BROUGHT IN TO CREATE A ROLLING LANDSCAPE THAT WOULD BLEND IN WITH THE KENTUCKY HILLS THAT SURROUNDED THE SITE OF THE FUTURE CAPITOL.

FINALLY, CONSTRUCTION BEGAN WITH GOVERNOR BECKHAM PLANTING HIS SHOVEL AT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES ON AUGUST 15, 1905.

IMMEDIATELY GRANITE FROM VERMONT WAS BROUGHT BY BARGE AND TRAIN.

AND TOGETHER, WITH THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF CONCRETE, IT FORMED A SOLID FOUNDATION.

THIS WAS AN ERA WHERE THERE WAS NO HEAVY MACHINERY FOR CONSTRUCTION OTHER THAN A STEAM POWERED CEMENT MIXER.

>> IT WAS MEN WHO BUILT THE CAPITOL, MEN AND HORSES AND ROPES, PULLNYS, CHAINS.

THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEVICES USED EXCEPT FOR THE STEAM CONCRETE MIXER AND THEY ONLY HAD ONE THAT THEY MOVED AROUND THE SITE WHICH MAY HAVE EXPLAINED WHY IT TOOK FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE IT.

>> Renee: FRANKFORT WATCHED AS THE BUILDING TOOK SHAPE.

JUNE 16, 1906 WAS A JOYOUS DAY AS THE CORNERSTONE WAS LAID BEFORE A LARGE CROWD OF SEVERAL THOUSAND SAND.

CURIOUSLY AFTER A LARGE EVENT, THE LOCATION OF THE CORNERSTONE WAS FORGOTTEN.

ONLY A PLAQUE IN THE ROTUNDA REMINDS US OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY.

FROM FAR OFF, THE TOWNS PEOPLE OF FRANKFORT COULD CONTINUE TO SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING AND THE RISING OF THE DOME.

FINALLY, AT NOON ON JUNE 2, 1910, THE NEW STATE CAPITOL WAS DEDICATED.

THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH WERE ALLOWED TO WALK THROUGH AND LOOK IN AWE AND WONDER AT THEIR OWN HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS CAPITOL BUILDING PRESENTED A SITE THAT RENEWED A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF WILLIAM GOEBEL 10 YEARS BEFORE.

FRANK MILLS ANDREWS HAD BEEN A STUDENT OF THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN OF PARIS FRANCE, A COMBINATION OF ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN ARCHITECTURE WITH A HEAVY INFLUENCE OF THEN CURRENT FRENCH DESIGN.

AS YOU TRAVEL UP CAPITOL AVENUE FROM DOWNTOWN FRANKFORT, THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL PRESENTS A COMMANDING SITE, RISING HIGH ABOVE THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS GROWN UP AROUND IT.

CERTAINLY THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FEATURE, AS YOU APPROACH, IS THE DOME.

WHILE MANY AMERICANS BELIEVE THE IDEA OF A DOME ORIGINATED WITH OUR NATIONAL CAPITOL, DOMES WERE ACTUALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT TO HELP IDENTIFY AND FIND THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT IN A CITY.

KENTUCKY'S DOME WAS PATTERNED AFTER NAPOLEON'S TOMB IN PARIS.

DISPLAYING THE FIRST OF MANY FRENCH INFLUENCES ON ANDREWS DESIGN.

INITIALLY A COPPER PLATE COVERING WAS CONSIDERED FOR THE DOME, BUT INSTEAD, TERRA COTTA BLOCKS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR COLOR AND LUSTER.

1,621 BLOCKS WERE DESIGNED SEPARATELY INTO CURVED SHAPES THAT FIT TOGETHER AND STILL TODAY FORM THIS BEAUTIFUL DOME.

THE FIRST ARCHITECTURE ELEMENTS TO ATTRACT ONE'S ATTENTION ARE THE COLUMNS, A FEATURE ANDREWS WOULD CONTINUE THROUGHOUT HIS DESIGN, ALONG WITH THE 24 COL COLUMN AS ROUND THE DOME, THERE ARE 70 MONOLITHIC COLUMNS DOMINATING THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

EACH IS A FULL 27 FEET 10 INCHES AND 18 TONS.

THEY WERE QUITE A CHALLENGE FOR WORKERS USING MANUAL CRANES AND PULLEYS.

AS YOU WALK UP, THE GRANITE STEPS BELOW THE DOME TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAPITOL, YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE WIDE ROLLING EXPANSE OF LAND ANDREWS WANTED TO SURROUND HIS CREATION.

THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL, BY BEING BUILT ON FARMLAND AWAY FROM THE CITY, HAD SPACE FOR BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING AND GARDENS.

>> THEY'RE PART OF WHAT MAKE OUR CAPITOL UNIQUE BECAUSE IT IS LIKE A GARDEN ALL AROUND OUR CAPITOL.

AND ANYBODY CAN COME AND WALK AND ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

IN THE SPRING IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE TULIPS IN FULL BLOOM AND TO DRIVE UP CAPITOL AVENUE.

>> Renee: HE TURNED TO THE OLMSTEAD BROTHERS, SONS OF FREDERICK OLMSTEAD, RENOWNED FOR HIS PARK DESIGNS IN LOUISVILLE AND CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK.

THE BROTHERS, JOHN AND FREDERICK, JR., COMBINED THEIR TALENTS TO GIVE THIS CAPITOL ITS OWN PARK SETTING AND IT HAS GROWN WITH TIME.

TREES NATIVE TO KENTUCKY FRAME THE CAPITOL AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, EACH GOVERNOR HAS ADDED THEIR OWN SPECIAL TOUCH TO THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE.

WHEN SEEN FROM THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL, THE VIEW OF THE FRONT GROUNDS WITH ITS COMPLEX OF WALK WAYS, GRANITE STAIRS AND BALLUSTRADES LEADING THROUGH THE FLOWERS BURSTING WITH COLOR HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO LOOK LIKE A PERSIAN RUG.

THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL RIGHTFULLY CAN BE CALLED A WORK OF ART AND INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF ARTWORK ARE ABUNDANT THROUGHOUT, BEGINNING WITH THE TRIANGULAR PEDIMENT ABOVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE.

THE PEDIMENT SCULPTURE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL DETAIL.

THE DEPICTION KENTUCKY EXQUISITELY CARVED BY THE AUSTRIAN SCULPTOR PETER ROSAK.

IN THE CENTER OF THE PEDIMENT STANDS LADY KENTUCKY ATTENDED BY FIGURES REPRESENTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

AT HER FEET IS PROGRESS, PUSHING A WINGED WHEEL.

HISTORY STANDS REGAL WITH HIS LEDGER RECORDING KENTUCKY'S RICH PAST.

PLENTY HOLDS AN OVER FLOWING CORNUCOPIA.

NEARBY, ART HOLDS HER PALLET AND BRUSH IN HAND.

AND LABOR FACES ART GRASPING ON TO A HAMMER.

AND ALL THE WHILE BEHIND IS LAW, AWAITING THE MEMBERS OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, WHO WILL SERVE INSIDE.

(GUNSHOT) (GUNSHOT) EVERY FOYER YEARS KENTUCKY ELECTS ITS GOVERNOR.

WATCHING THE BANDS OF POLITICIANS MARCHING UP STATE STREET FOR THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

AS THE GOVERNOR-ELECT WATCHES FROM THE VIEWING STAND, HE OR SHE CAN LOOK ACROSS STATE STREET AND SEE THEIR RESIDENCE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS: THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, CREATED BY AN ARCHITECT FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY, THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME ALSO CARRIES THE SENSE OF FRENCH DESIGN HELD THROUGHOUT THE CAPITOL.

AFTER A DAY OF SPEECHES AND CELEBRATION, THE EVENING ENDS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BALL, WHICH TRULY SHOWS OFF THE RICHNESS AND ART OF THIS CAPITOL BUILDING.

AS THE NEWLY SWORN IN GOVERNOR AND SPOUSE DESCEND A BEAUTIFULLY MARBLED STAIRCASE.

THE ROTUNDA IS THE HEART OF THE CAPITOL AND FIRST SIGHT FOR THE VISITOR ENTERING THE BUILDING.

RISING HIGH ABOVE, THE SAME DOME THAT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE OUTSIDE, IS TRULY INSPIRING INSIDE.

AND THE ROTUNDA ITSELF, THERE ARE FOUR STATUES OF FAMOUS KENTUCKIANS AND THE CENTER IS A 14-FOOT TALL BRONZE STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

THE STATUE WAS DONATED BY JAMES BRECKENRIDGE SPEED OF LOUISVILLE AS PART OF THE CAPITOL'S OPENING.

LATER, THREE MORE STATUES WOULD BE ADDED TO THE ROTUNDA.

ALVIN BARCLAY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FROM GRAVES COUNTY, THE ONLY VICE PRESIDENT TO MARRY WHILE IN OFFICE; AND THE FIRST TO USE THE TERM VEEP WHEN REFERRING TO HIS TITLE.

Dr.Y EPHRAIM McDOWELL PERFORMED THE FIRST SURGERY TO REMOVE AN OVARIAN TUMOR FROM A PATIENT, THIS DEPICTS THE BASKETBALL SIZED TUMOR HE REMOVED THAT DAY.

FINALLY THERE IS HENRY CLAY, THE GREAT COMPROMISER.

ONE FACT MOST VISITORS DON'T REALIZE ABOUT THIS STATUE IS THAT IT'S MADE FROM PLASTER WITH A VENEER TO LOOK LIKE BRONZE.

THE END OF HENRY CLAY'S CANE WAS BROKEN OFF BY A LIGHT BULB DROPPED BY A MAINTENANCE PERSON WORKING ONE DAY HIGH UP IN THE DOME.

LOOKING DOWN THE GREAT TRANSVERSE ACCESS OF THIS MARV MARVELOUS STRUCTURE, THE ROTUNDA ALMOST DISAPPEARS FROM SIGHT AMONG THE SPLEND ARE OF FLOORS AND STAIRCASES LINED WITH MARBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF CONSTRUCTION IN 1906, PERHAPS REALIZING THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF CREATING A TRULY UNIQUE STATE CAPITOL, THE LEGISLATURE SET ASIDE MORE MONEY TO CHANGE THE PLANNED FINISH OF THE INTERIOR WALLS FROM LIMESTONE, MATCHING THE EXTERIOR, TO MARBLE, CREATING THIS BEAUTIFUL LUSTROUS EXPANSE WHOSE SITE WOULD FOREVER TAKE THE BREATH AWAY FROM ITS VISITORS.

>> IT WAS CALLED THE AGE EVER CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION, THE GILDED AGE.

EVERYTHING WHAT TO BE BIGGER, STRONGER, MADE OF BETTER MATERIALS.

IT HAD TO LAST FOREVER.

SO THE CAPITOL THAT YOU SEE IS KENTUCKY'S EXPRESSION OF ITS WEALTH AND POWER THAT IT WAS TRYING TO OBTAIN.

>> THIS SINGLE OPEN AREA IS OVER 300 FEET IN LENGTH, MORE THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD.

FRANK ANDREWS LINE LINED IT WITH 36 MORE COLUMNS, SUPPORTING THE ORNATE CORNICE WORK THAT LINES THE ENTIRE HALLWAY.

AT EACH END OF THIS GREAT HALLWAY, ANDREWS BUILT A GRAND STAIRCASE, PATTERNED AFTER ANOTHER FAMOUS FRENCH STRUCTURE, THE PARIS OPERA HOUSE.

BOTH STAIRCASES CLIMB TO THE THIRD FLOOR, EACH TO A CHAMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS ANOTHER UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE OF THIS CAPITOL.

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF ONLY THREE STATES TO HAVE ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT HOUSED IN ITS CAPITOL BUILDING.

DISTENT AND HOUSE CHAMBERS FACE EACH OTHER ACROSS THE OPEN EXPANSE OF THE BUILDING.

ADORNING THE ENTRANCE TO EACH ARE LARGE MURAL PAINTINGS CALLED LYNNETTES DUE TO THEIR SEMICIRCULAR DESIGNS.

BOTH DEPICT DANIEL BOONE AT THE BEGINNINGS OF KENTUCKY.

AT THE EAST END OF THE CAPITOL OVER THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE CHAMBERS, THE LYNETTE SHOWS DANIEL BOONE AND HIS MEN ON THE DAY THEY CAME THROUGH THE CUMBERLAND GAP AND LOOKED OUT INTO THE BLUEGRASS.

OVER AT THE WEST END, THE SENATE'S LYNETTE DEPICTS BOONE STRIKING THE DEAL WITH CHEROKEE LEADERS WHEN HE BOUGHT THE LANDS OF KENTUCKY FOR $48,000.

OVER THE PAST CENTURY, THESE CHAMBERS HAVE SEEN THE ADDITION OF COMPUTERS AND LARGE TV MONITORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CHAMBER.

BUT LEGISLATORS STILL SIT BEHIND RICH MAHOGANY ROLL TOP DESKS.

GUESTS AND VISITORS CAN WATCH FROM THE BALCONIES LOOKING OUT BETWEEN FRANK APRIL DRUS' CONTINUING FLOW OF COLUMNS.

ANOTHER ANDREWS DESIGN ELEMENT THAT IS BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND ARTISTIC IS SEEN OVER THE HEADS OF THE LEGISLATORS, STAINED GLASS SKY LIGHTS.

THESE INTRICATE SKY LIGHTS EXTEND THE LENGTH OF THE CAPITOL ALLOWING FOR NATURAL LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE CHAMBERS AND HALLWAYS.

NATURAL LIGHTING THAT ACCENTUATES THE RICHNESS OF BOTH WOOD AND MARBLE.

ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL IS ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT: THE JUDICIARY.

AS OVERWHELMING AS THE HALLWAYS AND LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS ARE IN THIS CAPITOL, THE COURTROOM FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS THE MOST HANDSOME IN THE NATION; ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE COURT OF APPEALS, IT IS SOLEMNLY DONE WITH HEAVILY PANELED WALLS AND THE JUSTICES SIT IN LEATHER CHAIRS AS THOSE FROM 100 YEARS AGO.

>> TO ME THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THICK ABOUT IT ARE THE SEVEN CHAIRS FOR OUR JUSTICES.

ALL REPRESENTING MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR STATE AND THEY SIT ACCORDING TO THE REGION THEY REPRESENT STARTING ON THE LEFT WITH THE WESTERN REGION AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE EASTERN COAL FIELD REGION.

AND THAT, TO ME, IS VERY SPECIAL.

>> Renee: IT IS PERHAPS THE SMALLER ROOMS, WAITING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THAT ARE THE MOST MEMORABLE FOR THE VISITOR.

THE CAPITOL LIBRARY IS NO ORDINARY COLLECTION OF BOOK SHELVES.

IT IS AN OPEN TWO-FLOOR DESIGN WITH A SPECIAL STEEL STRUCTURE MANUFACTURED BY CARNEGIE STEEL.

THE FLOORS ON THE SECOND LEVEL ARE GLASS, STRONG ENOUGH TO WALK ON, YET ALLOWING NATURAL LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE BOOK STACKS BELOW.

DIRECTLY ACROSS THE GREAT HALL FROM THE LIBRARY OVERLOOKING THE ROTUNDA IS THE ROOM THAT ANDREWS DESIGNED TO MOST IMPRESS AND PERHAPS INTIMIDATE THOSE WHO COME TO THE CAPITOL: THE RECEPTION ROOM.

THIS ROOM HAS THE HEAVY FRENCH INFLUENCE FROM THE PUBLIC RECEPTION ROOM OF MARIE ANTOINETTE IN VERSAILLES.

IT IS HERE THE GOVERNOR MEETS WITH CITIZENS AND OUT OF STATE VISITORS.

HEAVY CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS HANG FROM THE CEILING AND AT EACH END OF THE ROOM ARE TWO LARGE MIRRORS POSITIONED TO GIVE THE IMAGE OF THESE CHANDELIERS STRETCHING OFF INTO INFINITY.

AND TODAY, THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL MAINTAINS THE TIMELESS BEAUTY OF ITS ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION.

CITIZENS AND VISITORS CAN STILL WALK THROUGH THE MARBLED HALLS AND STAIRWAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

KENTUCKIANS WHO TRAVEL TO THE CAPITOL DISCOVER THEIR STATE SEAL AND MOTTO CHOSEN BY ISAAC SHELL BY SO LONG AGO EMBEDDED IN SOME OF THE MOST UNSUSPECT BE PLACES.

♪ UNITING WE STAND, DIVIDING WE FALL ♪ >> Renee: AND ALL VISITORS MAKE SURE TO RUB THE TOE OF LINCOLN'S STATUE FOR GOOD LUCK.

BUT SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED OR BEEN ADDED WITH TIME.

AS LARGE AS THE CAPITOL BUILDING SEEMED AT ITS BEGINNING, THE NEEDS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT QUICKLY OUTGREW THESE WALLS.

IN 1950, THE CAPITOL ANNEX WAS BUILT BEHIND THE CAPITOL.

WHILE NOT MATCHING ITS GRANDEUR, IT IS COMPARABLE IN SIZE AND HOUSES OFFICES FOR LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF.

IT IS ALSO WHERE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TAKE PLACE.

AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL CONNECTS TO THE CAPITOL.

AND JUST AS ART STILL EXTENDS HER PALLET TO KENTUCKY IMPEDIMENT, NEW ARTWORK WELCOMES THE THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKIANS WHO VISITED EVERY YEAR.

IN 1971, A MINIATURE DOLL COLLECTION WAS OPENED.

EACH DOLL REPRESENTING ONE OF KENTUCKY'S FIRST LADIES.

EACH WEARING A GOWN MADE FROM FABRIC TAKEN FROM THEIR INAUGURAL DRESS.

THERE IS ONE MINIATURE FOR MARTHA LANE COLLINS, KENTUCKY'S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

DOWN THE HALL IS THE DISPLAY OF PAINTINGS OF THE MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO KENTUCKY'S HISTORY.

IN 2010, AS PART OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE STATE CAPITOL, FOUR WERE ADDED TO THE ROTUNDA REPRESENTING INDUSTRY, NATURE, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.

AND THE GARDEN-LIKE LANDSCAPING OF THE OLMSTEAD BROTHERS SAW A GRAND ADDITION IN MAY OF 1961 WITH A 34-FOOT WIDE FLORAL CLOCK.

THIS COLORFUL ADDITION HAS A 53.

IT HAS ENTHRALLED VISITORS FOR SIX DECADES.

THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL REMAINS A MONUMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BLUEGRASS.

FOR OVER A CENTURY, THOUSANDS OF ITS CITIZENS HAVE COME TO STAND WHERE GOVERNORS HAVE STOOD, TO GAZE UP IN AWE AND WONDER AND BEAUTIFUL MARBLED WALLS, REFLECTING THE LIGHT FROM STAINED GLASS SKY LIGHTS.

AND TO LOOK DOWN FROM BALCONIES AND WATCH AS THE LAWS ARE PASSED >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.

IT SORT OF REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS GOOD ABOUT OUR STATE AND IT SHOWS WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITIZENRY WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND DECIDE WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING GRAND.

>> Renee: THE ROTUNDA HAS BEEN THE SITE WHERE CITIZENS HAVE EXERCISED THEIR RIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE FOR MANY CAUSES, WHERE VETERANS AND THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN COMBAT HAVE BEEN HONORED AND IT WAS THE SITE FOR THE FUNERAL OF A BELOVED FIRST LADY.

AND THE BUILDING ITSELF HAS BEEN THE BACKDROP FOR THOUSANDS OF PICTURES OF THE GENERATIONS OF KENTUCKY FAMILIES AND CLASS TRIPS AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE TRAVELED TO THIS MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY.

THE KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL HAS STOOD IN SPLENDOR FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND ITS FOUNDATION AND STRENGTH AND BEAUTY LOOK TO SERVE THE COMMONWEALTH FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET