Plexus Slim

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Field trip to our state capital

What fun to have another opportunity to go on a field trip with our homeschool group. We had a great turn out, even with the weather being in the teens. The girls always look forward to seeing their friends and spending time learning new things with them. We headed off to the State Capital to learn about one of the most amazing architectural wonders around. Living only a few miles away and having the opportunity to pop in at any given time, you tend to forget what a special place it really is.

Built over ten years time, during the Great Depression, with a budget of $1 million dollars per year, you can't help but be in awe of every detail. Marble from around the world, real gold leaf stenciled ceilings, a dome 112 feet high that Davinci would be proud of, art deco styling everywhere you look, works of art depicting the history of this great state...and to top it all off, a 19 1/2 foot Sower on the very top that acts as a lightening rod to keep the entire building grounded. As an extra treat, we also got to see the 35 foot tall official Capital Christmas Tree with handmade ornaments sent in from around the state.

The kids learned not only about the building itself (clearly, my favorite topic;), but also about Nebraska's unique Unicameral legislative system and how it came about. They got to see where our state laws are made, sit in our State's Supreme Court, appreciate their heritage, and learn why they should be so proud to have the privilege of growing up in this great state. All in all, it was another wonderful learning adventure that they're still talking about :)