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| - I have a thing for touring state capitols; I'm not sure why, but here is my experience. In summary, this capitol provided the most access out of any I have toured and the guide was exceptional. (At the present moment, pending future state capitol tours, I would rank my tour of the California capitol in San Francisco #2 and Nashville, Tennessee as #3 - if you were wondering).
The website notes that the building is open to the public weekdays from 8a to 6p. It also lists hours on the weekends and on holidays, yes weekends and holidays, from 8a to 4p which is great, but rare as far as capitols go. You can walk through on your own, but free tours start at the information desk Monday to Saturday, except on holidays, at 9a, 10a, 11a, 1p, 2p, 3p, and in the summer at 4p and Sundays at 1p, 2p, and 3p. That's more guided tours a day than any other capitol I've ever toured!
The website says tours take 45-55 minutes. You can explore the sixth floor museum and observation deck if it is summer before or after the tour on your own. The tour is accessible (lifts available), but the observation deck is not. Truly you are not missing too much if you cannot go to the 6th floor and deck. The tour is super informative and the museum is only a small supplement of readable exhibits ringing the upper rotunda. The observation deck is nice as its a rare opportunity and nice to get outside, but the deck is not super high and the view, despite there being no skyscrapers in sight, is limited.
I took the 11a tour on a Monday and the group ended up being about 30 people large! Our guide was just amazing. I don't remember her name - but the guide was female, short blond hair. She was so energetic and kept the large group engaged.
When I say the WSC allows for great access, first of all there are no metal detectors or security screening upon entry. This immediately caught me off guard because I entered through a side door I wasn't sure if I supposed to enter through - but it was okay. By great access I also mean that the guide takes you into the governor's conference room and you get to sit down. You go into the Supreme Court room and can sit in the public gallery, but in the Senate you can actually sit in the Senators' seats. You can take (flash) photography anywhere you want. All in all you really feel welcomed in the capitol and like it truly is your house and not like you are just tiptoeing throughout.
The information provided on the tour was interesting as well. The guide was super informative about things you wouldn't notice or know to look for if just walking through on your own and she took lots of questions and had answers and stories for everyone. She was even great with the questioning kids in our group.
I highly recommend taking this hour tour if you are in the city really whether you are a local (we had several on our tour) or not.
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