Architecture, Government, the United States, Travel, and Photography

Theme-based Travel Photography — U.S. State Capitols

State capitol buildings can serve as gateways to history

The state capitol of Minnesota as viewed from the grounds of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. © 2022 Randy Runtsch.

Sometimes, I assign long-term photography projects to myself. For example, five years ago, I decided to combine two favorite hobbies, bicycle touring and photography, as part of a multi-year project to photograph every bridge that crosses the Mississippi River, which is 2,340 miles (3,770 km) long. I rode the first leg of the tour in May 2018. It covered 580 miles of roads near the river in Minnesota, from its headwaters in Itasca State Park, to Frontenac State Park. But I aborted the mission because most of the bridges were simple concrete structures with little photographic or design interest. Frankly, all but of a few of the bridges were boring subjects.

Scenes, including the author and his bike, from the now defunct Mississippi River Bridges Bicycle Tour travel photo project. © 2022 Randy Runtsch.

However, about fifteen years ago, on a family vacation to visit sites related to Abraham Lincoln in…