GrandStaircase
The Grand Staircase is the jewel of the Senate Building. The Staircase grandeur draws the
awe of many visitors each year.
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The ceiling above the Grand Staircase at the Atrium entrance to the Senate Building offers one of the most
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Female figures featured in the ceiling
frescoes of the Grand Staircase personify
Agriculture, Industry, Justice and the Arts.
stunning views on Capitol Square. Prior to the 1996 renovation of the building, the restored stained glass skylight depicting the Great Seal of Ohio had been covered by simple plywood and forgotten for many years. Classical frescoes had been long obscured by layers of smoke and grime. The staircase is made predominantly from white Italian Carrara marble and was also painstakingly restored during the renovation. Even the light fixtures are original, thanks to the foresight of the building's 1899 planners. Builders, unsure that electricity would 'catch on,' installed fixtures that would work with either gas or electricity.