Sightseeing Tours - Atlanta

The Capitol
Distinctive in its design, Georgia's State Capitol is both a state and national treasure. Built over a century ago after the close of the Civil War, it is constructed primarily of Georgia's own natural resources — marble, steel, iron and wood — with an exterior of Indiana limestone. The decision to use the state's own resources was meant to signal Georgia's independence and the quality of its products

The Capitol stands at the gateway to Atlanta. Its gilded, 75-foot round dome serves as both a beacon to travelers and a platform for Ms. Freedom, a 15-foot, 2,000 pound statue, whose sword and torch commemorate the war dead.

The Capitol building, named a National Historic Landmark in 1977, is surrounded by and steeped in history. Encircling the grounds and lining its interior walls and hallways are statues, busts and pictures of some of Georgia's well-known citizens - President Jimmy Carter; Nobel Peace Prize recipient Martin Luther King, Jr.; Georgia's founder James Oglethorpe, Senator Richard B. Russell; General John B. Gordon, the first governor to occupy the Capitol; and Thomas E. Watson, an historic figured in Georgia politics.

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