By 
Larry Mills, Kansas Capitol Tour Guide
On Friday, I visited the Kansas Capitol to shadow Rep. Don Hill.
Hill’s intern, LeAnn Bell, made arrangements for us to take a tour. Larry Mills was our guide for the tour. He gave some of the details of the building. (Construction took place from 1866-1903. The East Wing was built first at a cost of $500,000. The West wing cost $300,000.)
Mills told us about the history of the murals. And about the history represented in the murals.
Every so often on the tour, Mills would burst into song. At the mural of John Brown, we were treated to “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave.” The song shares the same tune as the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Mills told us that Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics to “Battle Hymn” after hearing Union soldiers sing the John Brown anthem.
And he made us (LeAnn and me) sing “Home on the Range” along with him. He makes everyone on his tours sing that song. (Luckily, LeAnn could carry a tune. Me, not so much.)
“I love this job,” Mills told us, “because I can combine history and music.” He first taught high school band and later received his Masters degree in history from Emporia State.
Sounds like it was a fun time. Maybe if some of us…me…could see government processes from the inside, we…I…would be less cynical or at least skeptical about the output or lack thereof.
Love that tie! That sure looks like more fun than I had the last time I was there–in January. (nobody sang to me…..)