Trip to the Dome!
Corinne and her Dad climbed the steps inside the Tippecanoe County Courthouse
Dome.  
 Here is our photo record of the trip.
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       This is the Tippecanoe County Courthouse on a cloudy day.  | 
  
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       First, you have to find the secret door.  | 
    
       
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       On the first level, we see the old chains and weights that used to power the clock. It's electric now.  | 
    
       Also, the Christmas lights that drape the dome in December are stored on this floor.  | 
  
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       Let's go up to the clock!  | 
    
       
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       Here are the clockworks  | 
    
       
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       This is the back of one of the clock faces. It is about 30 seconds before 3:00. It was fun to watch the gears and levers as the bell chimed.  | 
  
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       This is the view south at clock level  | 
    
       
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       We've gotten pretty high so far!  | 
  
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       Now we are at the base of the dome  | 
    
       
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       At the "ring" level, we have only a catwalk.  | 
  
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       This is the final ladder to the top. The trap door opens just under the bell. (This is as far as I got)  | 
    
       
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       Corinne made it too!  | 
  
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       Be sure to leave your mark for future generations!  | 
  
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       As we walk down, we can see the top of the domed ceiling.  | 
    
       
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       Here it is from the 2nd floor  | 
  
UPDATE: A couple of days later, I went up again and made it all the way to the trap door. Even though it was padlocked and I couldn't open it, I still feel like I made it!
Trip #2
  
   