Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota

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Gilded glory. Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota

A grand and gilded sight—the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul is waiting to be explored. Home to the state Senate and House of Representatives, the governor's office, and the attorney general's office, the 1905 building also houses a chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court. Architect Cass Gilbert's Beaux-Arts design features a remarkable dome that was inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. It is the second-largest self-supported marble dome in the world.

The dome was built in three layers, each serving a different purpose. The outermost layer, made of Georgia marble, holds itself up by sheer weight alone. Inside, a brick-and-steel cone adds support and helps drain water to withstand Minnesota's harsh winters. The innermost layer is the ornately decorated dome visible from the rotunda floor. At its base, 12 marble eagles stand alongside the surrounding columns. Crowning the structure is an elegant stone lantern, topped with a gleaming gold-leaf-covered finial globe.