America’s State Capitols: A Pictorial Tour

Afew weeks ago, I heard about the unusual work of two photographers from New Haven, Robert Lisak and David Ottenstein. They’ve gone around the country photographing the capitols in every state, preparing a book of their work. It’s not especially stimulated by any current event — the buildings date from 1772 to 1969 — but the country’s 250th birthday is, after all, coming in a few short years. The artists were drawn by the architectural diversity of these buildings. They were enormous points of local pride when they were created, often in the newly designated capitals of just-admitted states.

An exhibition of these photographs is running through the summer at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Conn. It’s a lovely house museum built in 1720 near Miss Porter’s School. Connecticut’s majestic capitol is nearby. So is the Wadsworth Atheneum. The New Britain Museum of American Art is in the next town.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

Afew weeks ago, I heard about the unusual work of two photographers from New Haven, Robert Lisak and David Ottenstein. They’ve gone around the country photographing the capitols in every state, preparing a book of their work. It’s not especially stimulated by any current event — the buildings date from 1772 to 1969 — but the country’s 250th birthday is, after all, coming in a few short years. The artists were drawn by the architectural diversity of these buildings. They were enormous points of local pride when they were created, often in the newly designated capitals of just-admitted states.

An exhibition of these photographs is running through the summer at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Conn. It’s a lovely house museum built in 1720 near Miss Porter’s School. Connecticut’s majestic capitol is nearby. So is the Wadsworth Atheneum. The New Britain Museum of American Art is in the next town.