Democracy is Local
Pennsylvania State Capitol
When one thinks about democracy at work, one often thinks about what is happening in Washington, DC. Washington is, indeed, our nation’s capital city. But what about our states’ capital cities? What happens at state capitals can often lead to what happens in Washington. Hence that long-time saying and reality—politics is local. State capital cities may not be like Washington. But they feature sites that are expected of capital cities such as the requisite capitol buildings and statehouses, which are often open for public viewings, museums that display the states’ historical artifacts, and other sites that celebrate the roles of state capitals. For example, a state capital city may be home to a major religious site such as a Roman Catholic cathedral. Furthermore, a state capital city may have parks or geological sites that could be visually appealing to its visitors. But what’s most important is that the machinery of democracy at state capitols and statehouses is often far more accessible than that at the US Capitol in Washington. To visit the US Capitol, one must book a ticket for a guided tour days in advance. To see a US House or US Senate in session, one must obtain a ticket from the office of the Senator or House Member.
On Thursday 28 August 2025, I took a train to Harrisburg, which was the capital city of my current state of Pennsylvania. I visited the architecturally elegant Pennsylvania Capitol and was able to not only climb the great steps to the capitol building but also to actually roam through much of that grand structure, including the visitor galleries of the House and Senate chambers. I felt a sense of solemnity during my visit to the Capitol; it was a place never to be disrespected. After viewing the Capitol, it was time to visit Harrisburg’s other important sites, including a beautiful Roman Catholic cathedral and a lovely park, which fronted the Susquehanna River.
For the convenience of this site’s visitors and as a reminder that Democracy is local, I have included a set of images of Harrisburg to this website. I hope to post sets of images of selected other state capitals as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary of its founding on a hot July day in Philadelphia, where I currently live.