10 great places to walk through history at state capitols

— -- Presidents Day weekend may have us thinking of Washington, D.C., but most of our national leaders started their careers working in state capitols. Author Jim Stembridge says statehouses are bona-fide tourist attractions — working museums of regional art and history. "They don't have water slides or video games, but they are great," says the author of Fifty State Capitols: The Architecture of Representative Government (Coho Publishing, $27.95). To research the book, he visited every state capitol and shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Salt Lake City

This statehouse recently underwent a complete renovation, expansion and retrofit, providing protection from earthquakes. Stembridge likes the natural light, new statuary, and visitor center and gift shop. "It's spick-and-span," he says. The interior also depicts historic scenes of Mormon settlement. 801-538-3074; utahstatecapitol.utah.gov

Annapolis

It's hard to match the history of this Colonial-era building, the only state capitol that also served as the nation's capitol. It's undergoing renovations, but visitors are welcome. "When you walk in, you are really in an important part of the history of our country," Stembridge says. 410-946-5423; msa.md.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/html/home.html

Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska rejected the traditional domed statehouse when it built the nation's first skyscraper capitol in 1932. The "Tower of the Plains" is ringed with several dozen outdoor scenes and statues depicting the history of democracy, such as the signing of the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence. "That's the most striking to me," Stembridge says. 402-471-0448; capitol.org

Columbus, Ohio

Stembridge is particularly impressed by the grounds of the Ohio Capitol, which he calls the best-designed and -maintained in the country. He also recommends a visit to the basement restaurant. "There's kind of a buzz. You can hear a lot of conversations. One thing about lobbyists and senators is that they usually have loud voices. It's just wonderful to hear the buttonholing and the arm-twisting going on." 614-728-2695; ohiostatehouse.org

Oklahoma City

The Sooner State celebrates its heritage (and economy) with an oil well in front of the statehouse and brightly lit murals of state natives like athlete Jim Thorpe and humorist Will Rogers. For years, the Capitol also stood out because it wasn't topped with a dome, but one was added a decade ago. 405-521-3356; okhouse.gov/Information/CapitolTours.aspx

Boston

History runs deep at this golden-domed statehouse across from Boston Common. The building was designed by Charles Bulfinch, who also worked on the U.S. Capitol and statehouses in Maine and Connecticut. Inside, look for the mural of Paul Revere's famous ride. "Boston was so much the catalyst for the Revolutionary War and our country, and it really is apparent in that building," Stembridge says. 617-727-3676; www.sec.state.ma.us/trs/trsidx.htm

Baton Rouge