Intern tradition revived with Statehouse dome tour

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Interns in the General Assembly were permitted to carry out an annual tradition Friday by taking a tour to the top of the Statehouse dome, a tour that was previously cancelled.

24-Hour News 8 reported several weeks ago that the dome tour was cancelled for liability reasons. Then, the governor stepped in and found a way to make it happen.

As a result, three groups of interns were escorted to the very top of the Statehouse dome.

They signed a liability waiver before entering a little used doorway on the fourth floor of the Statehouse.

“It will be a memorable experience, ” said Joshua Corum, an intern from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, who was given permission to speak even though talking to the media is normally forbidden.

We followed him up the winding stair case that leads to a catwalk above the Statehouse rotunda.

“I think there are a lot of little nooks and crannies of this old building,” he said, “that a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to see and for us to be able to go up there is pretty rad.”

Then, it’s up another set of stairs to a level where round windows in the dome provide a view of downtown sites.

“I’m not real great with heights and a couple of us were discussing that on the way up,” said Corum, “our sheer panic of what, three, four stories in a very tight circle.”

And then, no more than six people at a time, a trip up another set of stairs that leads to the cupola on top of the Statehouse dome and some fabulous views.

It’s also a place where visitors are all but required to leave a signature.

Picture taking is also mandatory.

And then it’s a dizzying trip back down, passed the message left by Gov. Mike Pence, with a memory that is hard to match.

“It’s nice to be able to be able to add my name to that list,” said Corum.

For Joshua and the others, the internship is now complete.