...one of the Page set-up people suggested that while Scout was being trained/oriented I should go over to the East Wing and up to the third floor to see the Supreme Court Room...and she told me some of the impressive facts about the room...
...so...I marched myself over there...point-and-shoot in hand...
...the elevators were certainly impressive...and not shiny brass like elsewhere in the building...
...there were pictures of the Supreme Court Justices...
...unfortunately the doors to the courtroom were locked...it being Saturday and all...and I thought that was all I would see...
...but as I stood in the hallway taking pictures...a door to a secret key-padded entrance opened...and a very nice gentleman came forth...and kindly offered to help...I explained who I was and why I was there...and he said that he is one of the Justice's Aides and sadly doesn't have keys to the Courtroom or he'd let me in...then he said...Wait!...we can go in the back way...so I was all over that! YAY!...
...he opened the door with the keypad...and led me through the Justice's Chamber...and then through a curtain into the Courtroom...
...the columns are probably the most impressive feature...they are seamless white marble from Virginia...the architect - Cass Gilbert - is said to have modeled the United States Supreme Court after West Virginia's...
...he was such a nice tour guide and told me lots about the Supreme Court Room...like...that's the original bench...designed by Gilbert in 1926...
...and they still sit in the same chairs...also designed by Gilbert...the Chief Justice's chair has a slightly taller back than the other four...
...the quote around the top is "The true foundation of Republican Government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management - Thomas Jefferson" - which basically says that the respect of property is the foundation of freedom...
...love the skylight...
...the quote over the doorway..."Firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right - Lincoln"...which comes from Lincoln's second inaugural speech right at the end of the Civil War...the full sentence is "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations"...
...so there you have it...a private tour of the Supreme Court Room...Charleston, WV...have you ever been in a Supreme Court Room?...
how lucky you are! no, i haven't been in a supreme court room - i've only been in district court (as a juror!!) looks like a beautiful structure.
ReplyDeletelove, k
p.s. enjoyed PI too!
Cool! What a fun way to kill time!
ReplyDeleteYou are inspiring me to take my kiddos on a tour of our state Supreme Court.
ReplyDelete