I had the great fortune of getting to climb up to the dome of the statehouse today. Truly a once in a lifetime type experience. I shot a few pics that you can see on flickr. They’re very hi-rez so make sure to look at the full size and do some zooming.
Nice, indeed, but how about some explanation. What is the library-like room in the first pic? What does the winch operate? And, now that you’ve spent these years in Rhode Island, where is the “Island?”
Many people don’t know this, but “Rhode Island” is actually an Island. I believe it’s the Island Newport and Middletown sit on, which the locals call “Aquidneck Island”. Incidentally, you’ll never find Aquidneck on a map. It doesn’t actually exist (just like South County doesn’t really exist). The mainland portion of Rhode Island is actually Providence Plantations. That’s why we have the longest name of all the fifty states: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
For bonus points, can you name the four US States that bear the name “Commonwealth” instead of “State”? No cheating by Googling it.
:-)
Virginia, Delaware, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts
I changed to Delaware from Kentucky, but I want to change it back.
Delaware was “the first state” not “the first commonwealth”. Kentucky sounds nice alliterated with Commonwealth. Therefore, Kentucky.
Kentucky Commonwealth. That phrase is almost as musical as the word “indubitibly”.