Harrisburg: the Capitol on the Susquehanna River

Capital of Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River, Harrisburg holds one of the nation's most sumptuous and richly decorated state capitol buildings.

The center, with the Capitol overlooking the Susquehanna River, is visited comfortably on foot.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol, called by Theodore Roosevelt 'the most beautiful building I have ever seen', preserves frescoes, stained-glass windows, and a dome inspired by St. Peter's in Vatican.

A few minutes away, City Island, an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River accessible by a pedestrian bridge, comes alive with parks and summer recreational activities for residents.

Walking along the riverfront, you stroll on Riverfront Park, among the longest continuous river pedestrian paths in the United States, with views of the forested banks opposite.

In the evening, the Midtown district comes alive with theaters, galleries and restaurants in restored historic buildings.

The Pennsylvania Capitol, completed in 1906 after years of construction, was inaugurated in person by President Theodore Roosevelt, who publicly praised it as one of the most beautiful government buildings in the entire nation.

The Susquehanna River, which flows through Harrisburg, remains the longest river on the U.S. East Coast with no direct navigable outlet to the open ocean.