State Capitol
State Capitol
4.5
About
Designed by influential architect Cass Gilbert, this grand building, the highest state capitol dome in the United States, is open to the public for tours and features decadent interior details like marble walls a massive crystal chandelier.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
537 reviews
Excellent
323
Very good
158
Average
43
Poor
10
Terrible
3
harryatkck
Kansas City, KS983 contributions
May 2022
My wife & I have visited 48 of the 50 state capitals in the US & this was by far the worst one we have visited. The website states that the capital is open on Sundays. However, it doesn't give any information on where to park or how to enter the building. We happened to be in Charleston on a Sunday afternoon on our way home from the east coast & decided to visit. I dropped my wife (who has a hard time walking) off at the front hoping we could enter close by & I found metered street parking on the east side. When I went back to rejoin my wife, I couldn't find a public entrance, but I happened upon a state employee about to enter via a locked entry & he directed me to towards a public entrance towards the back of the west side. I found the entrance & 2 security guards let us in. But everything except the bathrooms were locked up & there was nobody working there to give s assistance. I did find the tour desk & picked up a booklet titled "West Virginia State Capital Walking Tour & Visitor Information". Inside was a map that showed the capital complex & provided all the information on parking & entering the capital. I wish this brochure has been on the website instead of the useless brochure that is there now. We used the restrooms before we left & my wife told me that the restroom she used was one of the grossest ones she had been in. Bottom line: If you advertise that you are open on Sunday, you need to have a few people there to help visitors. Otherwise don't say that it is open.
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blackriverwoman
Virginia465 contributions
Feb 2019
I would have rated this place terrible but it is the state capitol. Where is the security to keep people from making this place smell like urine. The only other place i have been that smells like strong urine is in DC. And what is up with the workers not finishing the gilding on the dome? Who is in charge of these people. We have one of the most beautiful capitols in the nation and for it to be disrespected like this. What a shame. Won't be coming here again.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa T
Sudbury, Canada2 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Walking through the Capitol building was a wonderful experience. Walking down the marble hallways looking at the artwork on the walls. Seeing the young children on tour with their classmates learning all they can. It’s definitely a place that you want to stop in and see.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve M
Pulaski, TN583 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The capitol is a beautiful building to visit. The people working there were very friendly and will answer any questions that you have. All of the state offices are within the complex area and even the Governor's Mansion is next to the capitol. If you are hungry, there is a great cafe in the basement with reasonable prices. Parking is not free and you will be ticketed if the meter runs out. There were several cars with tickets.
Written 12 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alicia_JA
Chicago360 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
I am on a quest to visit all 50 state capitols. The capitol in Charleston did not disappoint. The grounds are gorgeous. There was plenty of street parking nearby and access into the building was organized and quick. We were able to wander around the inside and capture some great photos of both the house & the senate. The rotunda, both inside & out, is absolutely phenomenal.
Written 30 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dewayne P
Elizabethtown, KY2,024 contributions
Jul 2022
I will start off by saying parking was not fun. There are metered or pay lots all around, but still not a joy. You enter through the public entrance at the back and can go by the visitor's information booth - but they didn't have any self-guided tour maps. I walked around aimlessly taking in the building and artifacts. They do have guided tours, but I didn't arrive close enough to take one.
Written 14 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TAK0269
Clarksville, TN683 contributions
May 2024 • Family
We did no go in as the parking was a huge issue! However kids and myself jumped out as husband went around in car. We grabbed a few pictures in front of the capital which is beautiful! The swing was neat and we learned as we were heading out of town about the huge swings, I wish they would make a trifold with maps like a scavenger hunt. Also, the West Virginia outline of the state is to close to the swing, they are great photo moments, but you can’t get one without the other with the capital as a backdrop. However parking all over is an issue p, could be expensive. The homeless are at every turn, but unlike Clarksville, TN they do not approach you and did not make me feel uncomfortable with my or the children’s safety at all! Would have loved to go inside as the outside is amazing!
Written 2 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
recorder
Pineville, MO1,928 contributions
Jul 2021
We called a couple of months ago and tours were out because of covid. When we got there the tours had started up again but needed a 24 hour pre order. Oh well we saw the rotunda and the House room. Very nice building inside and out
Written 16 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TWB
Cincinnati, OH2,484 contributions
Aug 2021
I've seen the golden dome from the highway several times...finally made it to Charleston with time to see it up close. It would be fun to have a picnic on the lawn. This is such a pretty building and lawn, especially at night.
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TennisStar602
New Jersey712 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
On a Sunday afternoon, I walked around the grounds of the Capitol building. The grounds had a nice landscape with tons of trees and statues. The Capitol building was also a pleasant site to see from the outside. Yet, the surrounding areas near the Capitol building were a bit rundown and sketchy to me. There was parallel parking near the Capitol building. Interstate 64 was also very close to this vicinity.
Written 8 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know if the dome is still under construction? And when it will be finished? Thanks
Written 3 September 2020
It's free and worth seeing, but when we were there in July, it was undergoing renovations and the dome was wrapped up and you could not see the inside of the dome because that area was closed off. There is enough to see with the courtrooms, governors office, etc. that it is still worth visiting. The amazing West Virginia State Museum is right across the street and is also free, and you could spend an entire day wandering around in there and not see everything it has to offer.
Written 17 August 2019
Do we need pre-booked tickets to do a tour? What is the cost? Is it worth it to do a tour or can we manage on our own?
Written 25 July 2018
No tickets needed. Please note we went on a Sunday. The building was empty, no one to answer questions or give any info.-
Written 13 August 2018
There is a visitors parking lot on the west (?) end of the capital which I is free. (I think)
Written 21 March 2018
We'll be stopping in Charleston overnight on our way from Indiana to North Carolina with an almost 4 year old. Are there things at the Capitol complex for children that age to do or is there something close by that she might enjoy? I know she'll enjoy seeing the statues and rotunda but if anyone has any tips on what we should definitely see nearby, that would be great!
Written 5 December 2016
There is a museum in the capitol complex across the way from the capitol building itself that has activities for children. Just ask at the front desk when you go in.
Written 7 December 2016
Yes it is.Though not the original .
Encompassing more than 14 acres of floor space, the Capitol, made of buff limestone, is dominated by a 23-karat gold-leaf dome 293 feet high. The dome is 5 feet higher than the nation�s Capitol and the largest of any state capitol dome in the United States
Written 3 September 2015
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