Looking up at the upper rotunda and the Whispering Gallery of the Missouri State Capitol.

The uniquely designed drum and dome of the Missouri State Capitol includes a space appropriately known as the “Whispering Gallery.”  The acoustics of the gallery allow sound waves to travel alongside the curved walls, thus enabling visitors to hear whispered exchanges across the 100-foot divide of the open space of the dome.  Although access to the gallery is limited (guests must be accompanied by a member of the legislature of a staff person), a visit to this exceptional space is worth the time and effort.

Recently, veteran statehouse reporter and capitol historian Bob Priddy published an excellent article explaining the history of how the Missouri Capitol became the first to be specifically designed to accommodate a whispering gallery.  Read all about it here.