Other Glass Floors
Glass tile floors were not uncommon in the post-Civil War period. Architect E.E. Myers called for glass floors in several of his large buildings, including the State Capitol in Austin, Texas and Old City Hall in Richmond, Virginia. In a pre-electric era, glass floor tiles, laylights, door lights, transom windows, and interior windows amplified the distribution of both natural and man-made lighting.
The rotunda of Old City Hall in Richmond, Virginia features an illuminated glass floor. This is perhaps because the building was designed by Michigan’s architect, Elijah E. Myers.
Image courtesy of Eli Christman
The G.A.R. Rotunda at the Chicago Cultural Center features a set of 9 glass floor sections underneath a stunning dome. Lucid Glass of Rhode Island restored these glass panels.
Image courtesy of Colin Boyer, Book Club Chicago