The eye travels 96 feet from the glass and tile rotunda floor to the top of the South Dakota Capitol dome in Pierre. Edward Simmons painted four pendentives (dome arches) like he had for the Minnesota Capitol five years before. The south one in the upper left is called “Motherhood.” The other shows goddess Minerva as “Wisdom, Industry and Mining.” The next stop is a band of ribbons symbolizing government’s eternity. Next are 16 painted alcoves followed by rectangular openings and Victorian stained glass all in a hub and spoke design. It is gorgeous!
