Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania State Capitol and Its Grounds

Assembly area

Soldier’s Grove

The rear of the Capitol building

The front of the Capitol building

Seen below flanking the main entrance of the Capitol are two groups of white statues by the Pennsylvania sculptor, George Grey Barnard: “Love and Labor/The Unbroken Law,” on the north face or the left side, and The Burden of Life/The Broken Law,” on the south face or right side. Sculpted in France, the statuary was unveiled on October 4, 1911. Barnard, a native of Bellefonte and originator of New York’s Cloisters, a museum of medieval art and architecture, died in 1938 and, at his request, was buried in Harrisburg, near his most famous work.

The Capitol Dome—Inspired by the Cathedral of St. Peter’s in Rome, the Capitol Dome, designed by Huston, continues to dominate Harrisburg’s skyline. Towering to a height of 272 feet and weighing 52 million pounds, it is a combination of two shells, an inner dome and an outer dome.

Seen below the fourteen foot six inch high gilded bronze statue atop the Capitol Dome is a work entitled “Commonwealth” by Roland Hinton Perry. Nicknamed “Miss Penn,” she holds a garlanded mace in her left hand upholding the standard of statehood. The right hand is extended in benediction.

The Hartranft Statue- The equestrian statue, sculpted by F.W. Ruckstuhl in 1897, of General John F. Hartranft (Governor 1873-1878) was placed in front of the Capitol in 1899, and later moved to its present location. Early in the Civil War the 90-day volunteer unit he belonged to turned its back and went home on the eve of First Manassas. Though their enlistment was up, Hartranft was humiliated by the decision and stayed to fight with the army. This act earned him the Medal of Honor.