State Law Library.

Occupying a massive Victorian grand hall within the Iowa State Capitol, the State Law Library is widely considered one of the most beautiful interiors in the country. The five-story atrium is a masterclass in 19th-century craftsmanship, defined by ornate hand-painted ceilings, encaustic tile floors, and a centerpiece stained-glass window dating back to the 1880s. Its most iconic features are the dual wrought-iron spiral staircases that wind upward past tiers of ash and chestnut shelving. While it feels like a film set, it remains a working legal resource used daily by lawmakers. The collection spans specialized Roman and English legal foundations to modern Iowa history. Visitors are welcome to wander the stacks or find a quiet alcove among the marble wainscoting and original chandeliers to appreciate the quiet, scholarly atmosphere of a preserved Gilded Age library.