The Welcome Center, located in the East Wing, provides a unique introduction to Pennsylvania state government. Opened in the spring of 1995, the Welcome Center offers several interactive displays that introduce the people and events which have made Pennsylvania the great Commonwealth we live in today.
Hello History presents Pennsylvanians who have contributed to Pennsylvania through leadership, enterprise, the arts, innovation and athletics. The kinetic sclpture Making Law in Pennsylvania represents the many steps which a bill must follow before it can be enacted into law. A video entitled The Uncommon Commonwealth illustrates the diverse resources, cultures and customs found within Pennsylvania.
It is the right of each Pennsylvanian to participate in state government. The Welcome Center is designed to provide citizens with the basic information necessary to be a part of this process. The Welcome Center encourages you to study the past, understand the present, and prepare you for the future. We hope you will take advantage of this resource and work with your elected officials to ensure a bright future for Pennsylvania.
| The grand staircase in the Capitol Rotunda leads to the Legislative chambers, the House on the right and the Senate on the left. The spectacular dome, modeled after the great dome of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, rises 272 feet from the ground and weighs 52 million pounds. The rotunda serves Pennsylvanians as a popular public forum, providing a magnificent and symbolic setting for many types of gatherings, from rallies and the signing of bills to news conferences and concerts. |