By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jul 22, 2014 at 3:53 PM

Today, I visited the Milwaukee Public Library's beautiful Central Library to do research for a couple upcoming stories. While I was there, I asked to see the dome.

The stately and ornate library building, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., was built between 1893 and 1897 and was designed by architects Ferry & Clas. It's made of Bedford (Indiana) limestone and the interior has incredible tile work, marble and many other eye-catching details. 

At the top of the Classical Revival gem is a low, wide dome flanked by eagles. Follow me...

This is what the dome looks like on the outside and from the roof to the east:

There's one of the eagles, with one of Downtown's ubiquitous gulls perched atop its head:

This is what the dome looks like if you're in the lobby:

Everything's more fun if you circle up to it:

First, they decorated the ceiling, then they bashed a hole through it for the staircase:

The inside of the dome:

It's quite spacious:

There appears to be another spiral staircase in pieces:

Watch your step on the way down:

Want to see it for yourself? The dome is open during Doors Open MKE, Sept. 20-21.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.