You may have seen this advertised on billboards across the State, but this was something that really intrigued us! We love educational activities and experiences for our kids, in fact, for us too 
So this week is called Capitol Discovery Week and runs the 13th – 18th of September 2010 and is located at the Utah State Capitol. The hours of operations: September 13-18, 2010 Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last orientation at 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. respectively) They can take 100 people through every half hour.
You will find rare artifacts display from our nation’s founding. You can also meet history face-to-face with Founding Fathers!
Here’s how the website describes this event going on all week:
A very exciting and very rare traveling exhibit will also be at the Capitol during these events in which original documents from our nation’s founding will be displayed. Originals and reproductions will depict critical events in our nation’s history. Also, meet history face to face as the Colonial Heritage Foundation and Founding Fathers will be there to interact with the crowd.
In addtion, there will be a concert on September 17 and 18 at 8:00 p.m. the Capitol Rotunda.
There will be the setting for a special musical celebration of our U.S. Constitution presented by the Constitution Day Committee of Utah, Roots of Freedom, and renowned composer Lex DeAzevedo conducting a combined local choir and orchestra. Commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, this patriotic celebration will feature elected officials addressing the theme “Stand for Our Constitution – The Contract for Freedom.”
Finally, Capitol Discovery Day is Saturday the 18th of September where you will find many hands-on activities. This event runs from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in which the public can participate in fun and informative activities about our Utah Capitol.
Here are the details:
Capitol Discovery Day offers a variety of hands-on activities, tours, music and presentations to engage everyone in the family. Activities for families to learn about architectural crafts reflecting the skills used to build the Capitol nearly 90 years ago include:
-Dome Construction: Build small geodesic domes with toothpicks and gumdrops.
-Coloring Activity: Color copies of the murals with crayons
-Gold Leafing: Use 6×6 gold leafing squares and paint with wooden cutouts.
-Creating Mosaics: Glue paper squares on construction paper.
-Sculpting Symbols: Beehives, wyverns, eagles, acorn, sego lily
-Stencils: Use Capitol symbols to create wonderful stencils.
-Shake Table Demonstration: See how an earthquake shakes a building while it is protected with base isolators and without base isolators.
-Room Tours: Governor’s Ceremonial Office, State Receptions Room, House Chambers, Senate Chambers and Supreme Court
I-Spy Treasure Hunt: Look around the Capitol for amazing art, architecture and artifacts. Receive a small goody-bag of school supplies.
Capitol docents (volunteers) will be on hand to share the history, architecture, and art of one of the most important buildings in Utah. They teach how the recently completed restoration project stayed true to the vision of original architect, Richard Kletting.
This sound like loads of fun and very beneficial to anyone wanting to learn more or appreciate more about our history. The best part is that it is all FREE!
We might be there on Saturday to participate in the list of activities. Ms. Optimistic is totally into these things and her enthusiasm is very contagious to all of us so it should be quite a fun adventure for us. We hope you get to go.
Please visit the following websites for more information, in addition to registration (that is recommended) for special events going on this week.
One odd thing that we like to do as a family (we love to travel) is to visit the Capitol buildings in each Capital city in the nation. By far, the Utah State Capitol Building is one of the most beautiful ones we have explored. We love to go – best part is, this is a FREE “museum” tour no matter the state
We loved to explore all of the Capitol Building, but here were our favorites!
From Alex:
“I love walking into the empty House of Representative and Senate chambers. They are beautiful and by design seem to remind you of the importance of the matters that are decided there each year.”
The Girls Overlooking one of the Congress Floors
From Cassie:
“My favorite part of exploring the Capitol Building is seeing the courtrooms! They are unbelievable in splendor and stunning simple designs. Plus the awe of silence in a very elegant courtroom really gets you thinking.” (They did not allow pictures at the time, but the Chambers are really quite amazing – I guess you will have to see for yourself )
From the Girls:
“The little castles inside are so cool, it was fun to go in and out of the entrances and pretend to play castle.”
They really did think that the areas underneath the staircases were perfect for two pretty princesses. The rest of the areas in the building were so ginormous that they spotted this area nearly as soon as we entered. They danced and twirled under the arches as the grandeur and elegance really made them feel like they were in a castle within a castle! So adorable!
Even if you don’t make it to the Utah State Capitol Building during this event, there is still a lot of beautiful architecture, art and history worth going to see any time of the year! Don’t forget it is FREE and memorable (not counting your tax dollars)
