Earlier this year, I completed my quest to visit each of the state capitol buildings in the continental United States. To view those images, please click here.

Minnesota was the first state capitol that I visited. I took a few photographs and ended up keeping just one image of the exterior of the building. At the time, I had no idea that I would be taking on the project to photograph every capitol building.

So last month I decided to revisit the Minnesota capitol. During the planning stages, I learned that the Minnesota State Capitol building is undergoing a three year restoration and repair project. The building is closed to visitors until 2017! 

Since I wanted to also visit my nephew at St. Cloud University, I proceeded with my trip to Minnesota despite the closing of the state capitol building. In its place, I photographed the interior of two beautiful churches--the Basilica of St. Mary and the Cathedral of St. Paul. My next visit to the capitol building will have to wait for a couple of more years.

Minnesota State CapitolThe Minnesota State Capitol building is located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

We visited St. Paul on Saturday morning, November 3, 2007.

The group of people standing across the top of the stairs arrived on the bus (located just to the right of the stairs). They were a religious group praying for forgiveness for the "sins of our nation."

A Nikon circular polarizer was used for this shot.