Statehouse dome closed to tours

A structural engineering study completed in January 2023 quietly closed the iconic dome of the Indiana Statehouse to tours last year due to safety concerns, according to the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA).

The dome, which has its own lapel pin, is one of the most celebrated parts of the Statehouse and includes 256 panels of colored glass, as detailed by the agency online. But the agency didn’t indicate any plans to reopen the 19th-century structure in the coming years.

The emblematic feature atop the Statehouse includes several architectural elements, including a cupola, which is the smaller structure on top of the dome. The visually striking stained glass dome sits under this outer feature and a skylight, and is just above the central rotunda.

“In 2022, IDOA conducted a structural engineering study to review the steel infrastructure of the State House dome to include all steel staircases, supports, brackets and other supports,” said governor’s office spokeswoman Erin Murphy on behalf of IDOA. “As a result of the study, IDOA determined there needed to be limited access to the dome for safety concerns and therefore ended group tours.”

Read more: https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2023/11/24/statehouse-dome-closed-to-tours/


The iconic dome of the Indiana Statehouse is closed to the public, citing structural concerns for the 135-year-old feature. (Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle)