To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been showing you photos of things around the ‘Iolani palace – today I’m featuring photos of the palace itself.
'Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii
A close-up of the palace. My husband is on the steps.
‘Iolani Palace is the only royal residence in the United States. Here are some of the interesting facts about the palace that we learned on the tour:
ʻIolani Palace features architecture seen nowhere else in the world. This unique style is known as American Florentine. On the first floor a grand hall faces a staircase of koa wood. Ornamental plaster decorates the interior. The throne room (southeast corner), the blue meeting room, and the dining room adjoin the hall. The blue room included a large 1848 portrait of King Louis Philippe of France and a koa wood piano where Liliʻuokalani played her compositions for guests. Upstairs are the private library and bedrooms of the Hawaiian monarchs. It had electricity and telephones even before the White House. (Wikipedia)
That last bit about the electricity and telephones was a big surprise, as was the early inclusion of indoor toilets, several of which they had on display. Unfortunately they did not allow photography inside the palace so I can’t share that loveliness with you.
But seriously, there were some neat artifacts inside. My favorite was the quilt that the queen made while she was imprisoned in her room.
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This pictures make me wish to visit Hawai! Simply awesome..!!
That is an impressive looking building. Too bad they didn’t let you take photos inside. I guess they want us all to visit!
We recently moved to Honolulu. I have driven by the palace, but haven’t toured it yet. It is so beautiful!
Lovely photos.
I would like to browse that private library
carol
There were some really old books, but it was much smaller than I would have thought. Of course when I hear the words “palace” and “library” together I automatically think of Beauty and the Beast – and everything pales in comparison to that.
Wow, that’s a beautiful place. Fascinated that it’s the only royal palace in the USA… and then I realised that *of course* it would be. LOL.
That’s pretty cool. And, yes, the architecture is hard to place. I love all the detail in the stone work.
The building shape must be American. It looks like it could be in Philadelphia. But the detail is surely Florentine. If this picture were a jigsaw puzzle, all the detail would make you crazy. The queen sounds very practical, making a quilt while she was imprisoned.
Beautiful! I love that the palace has Greek columns.
Wow, that is really impressive!
Gorgeous! One day I’d love to go to Hawaii.
I love great architecture and the artifacts as well. Imagine the Queen quilting while imprisoned!
I keep saying to my partner that we HAVE to go to Hawaii some day. You series of photos certainly haven’t done anything to make me stop repeating that mantra.
It’s gorgeous! I recognized your hubby on the steps.
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The Iolani Palace sounds amazing… I love knowing facts like that!
It’s a lovely building – such clean lines and so much history!
The building is quite beautiful. How was that private library? That’s the part I would like to see!
It wasn’t as big as you would think. There were a few shelves with old books. It didn’t leave a huge impression actually so I don’t remember it well.
That is beautiful! It is an exquisite palace!
Hi Alyce,
Awesome snapshots! Love all those columns and the ornate work on the building. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
All you travelin’ folks make me want to plan a vacation…to Hawaii and Ireland and England and….. Looks like I’ll need about six months off. Lol.
I didn’t know it was a Royal residence and the only one in the USA. I’d love to see the inside. I don’t personally think the building, as a whole, is beautiful or stunning, though of course it’s impressive, but I think a lot of the details on the building are amazing. It looks like there’s a lot of intricate work done to the facade, some looks like the trim on a cake!
I’m loving your Hawaii photos, Alyce. Thanks!
I love your honesty about what you think of the building! It was very impressive in person, and ornamental trim on buildings often makes me think of cake icing.
These are gorgeous! I wish I could see that quilt…and the library. Too bad it didn’t leave much of an impression.
Alyce, you really did some fabulous sightseeing while on vacation.
Love the detail of the building. Wonder who the architect was?
I’ve been following another blogger’s Saturday Snapshot for a while now, but this is my first time contributing.
Gorgeous architecture.
Great photos! What a wonderful trip that was!
Very majestic and impressive building. Sometimes I feel sad about the box like buildings we are having nowadays. They seem to have no soul and no elegance as compared to old buildings like this.
Every Savage Can Reproduce
Such wonderful architecture.
Such sturdy columns. Gracefully well-built.
No, no, I am not ogling your husband…. I mean the building. THE BUILDING!
Sure, I believe you!
You made me laugh so much with that one.
I didn’t even know the US had such a palace.. thanks for the info!!