Cass Gilbert's 1932 capitol is the most impressive building in the state — a 293-foot gold dome that outshines the national model it's modelled on. Inside, the rotunda features a two-ton bronze chandelier (designed never to fall, even if the cables broke) and Italian marble brought up the Kanawha by barge. Free guided tours run on the hour from Monday to Saturday and cover the rotunda, Senate, House, and Governor's reception room.
The Capitol Complex grounds are open at all hours and worth a slow walk: several Civil War monuments, the famous Bernie Wiepper sculpture of "Lincoln Walks at Midnight", and the state history museum next door. The black squirrels that live on the grounds, descended from a 1930s introduction, are a local curiosity.