Kansas State Capitol - Online tour - Ad Astra
The bronze statue of the Kansa warrior, Ad Astra, was placed on top of the dome in 2002. Sculpted by Kansas artist Richard Bergen, it is 22 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 4,420 pounds. The Kansa people, for whom the state takes its name, contributed to the history of Kansas. The warrior faces toward the North Star, a symbol of finding one’s way. The statue is named for the state motto: Ad astra per aspera, “To the stars through difficulties.”
