Smarty pants scooter riders

We told these youngsters that riding scooters on the Capitol grounds was illegal. It took the state troopers they were riding towards to enforce the law. I wish they'd gotten a fine.

Our State Capitol

This is a pretty good rendition of our Texas Capitol Building...in Lego Blocks. It will reside in the Capitol Visitor's Center for a few years.

Capitol Tree

This tree is on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. I happened to notice the odd arrangement of knots the other day.

Spring on the Avenue

Flowers bloom and cacti sprout in front of the Yeti Store on Congress Avenue. That's FFP with the shopping bag and the Frost Bank Tower and then the Capitol in the distance.

Checking the action

These observers from the ACLU were on hand at the Women's March to make certain all civil rights were observed.

Couple at the Capitol

Along with this couple, we were enjoying the nice weather and wandering through the State Capitol grounds on a recent Sunday.

Historic water fountain

I love this eight hydrant 1928-era water fountain on the Capitol grounds. 

Bigger in Texas!

This colossal tree is on our State Capitol grounds.

Dancing Round and Round

I took a walk to the Capitol Grounds the other day. An insistent drum beat was ringing out in the annex area in back (which is underground to preserve the area). I peeked over the edge of the round atrium to see native Americans dancing round and round and back and forth using the Lone Star in the middle as a kind of focus. It made me see this area in a whole new light. Tourists were drawn to the ground level and workers and lawmakers (our bienniel legislature is in session) were drawn out of offices on several levels below.

It is the first of the month and, as always at City Daily Photo, it is theme day. The theme is revolution. Participants were invited to display anything which evoked that word. I was tempted by statues of our Texas Revolutionists who brought about the Republic of Texas in 1836 or even a statue to the soldiers of our failed revolution called the Civil War (Texas became a state in 1845 and then seceded in 1861 with the Confederacy). But these colorfully attired citizens dancing in the round won the day with actual the wheel-like spokes and the idea of this Indian Nation performing just there. There was no sign to indicate which American Indian tribe was performing but their dress and dancing were wonderful. My Google searches also failed to identify.

Click here to see other sites interpretation of theme day.

Good fences make good Capitols

This marker is on the fence around the State Capitol. 10 Dec 1885!

Keeping the Peace

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Capitol Grounds some kids climbed on a cannon while some of Austin's finest visited nearby.

Steep hill, no problem.

These kids were having fun running up the hill at the State Capitol the other day.

Same boat now

These ladies were carrying signs at the MLK Birthday rally.  I like the sentiment. To wit: "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."-- ML King, Jr.

Irony on MLK Birthday

You don't have to look far for irony in real life.  See that statue of a soldier on a horse overlooking the crowd?  That's a Confederate solider and this rally is taking place on Martin Luther King's birthday on the state Capitol grounds.  

Texas, Our Texas

We went for a walk around the Capitol grounds the other day.  Sometimes we forget what a magnificent building the seat of our government is; and it was built in the 1800s.

They Paid the Ulitmate Price

Linda and I walked past the Peace Officers Memorial on the Capitol grounds recently.  Two names on this panel leaped out at me.  Billy Paul Speed was killed on the campus at The University of Texas on Aug 1, 1966, trying to deal with the Tower sniper.  (He was about two blocks away from me when he died.) J.D. Tippitt was killed on Nov 22, 1963 in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination.

Photo Op

The Capitol grounds are apparently a popular site for Quinceañera photos.

Spring comes to the Capitol Grounds

This Redbud tree is in full bloom. It's one of our early harbingers of spring. I took this last Sunday. Well into spring in Central Texas! The statue in the background is featured here.

Our Statue of Liberty

On the North Lawn (the back yard if you will) of the Capitol there is a small copy of the Statue of Liberty. The statue was presented by The Boy Scouts of America in 1951 as part of the 'Crusade to Strengthen Liberty.' It's tucked away where you might not see it unless you use the Capitol grounds as a walking path. We were on our way to Blanton museum when I shot this.

Republic of Texas Biker Rally

Every June motorcycles rule for a weekend in the Capital City. On Friday night they take over Congress Avenue for a parade and then a sort of impromptu convention and street fair. Snapped this Friday night after taking in the parade and then a set of jazz at the Elephant Room. Zoom, zoom! And, yes, that's the Capitol in the background.