Inaugural Ball belongs in the Capitol

ALLEN MILLER | Olympia • Published November 28, 2012 Modified November 27, 2012

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W e are extremely fortunate to live in the midst of the greatest example of City Beautiful Movement architecture in the world, our state Capitol Campus, with its revolutionary Capitol Group of buildings and Olmsted Brothers landscape. Professor Henry-Russell Hitchcock has written: “It was at Olympia, Washington, that the American Renaissance in state capitol building reached its climax.” With this in mind, it is inconceivable that the Inaugural Ball Committee would move the grandest event in the state capital city off of its grandest venue after being on the Capitol Campus for decades. The Legislative Building is certainly the most accessible and secure area in Thurston County with its many elevators and with the State Patrol on duty. It is especially troubling that this decision was made when we are celebrating the centennial year of the Temple of Justice. Please join Gov.-elect Jay Inlsee, Secretary of State Sam Reed, Justice Charles Wiggins, Sen. Karen Fraser, Rep. Sam Hunt, Mayor Stephen Buxbaum and other elected officials in contacting the Inaugural Ball Committee to move the grand quadrennial event back to where it belongs on the state Capitol Campus.