At the dedication of the new capitol building in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt declared it to be “the handsomest state capitol I have ever seen.” Pennsylvania’s capitol building is without a doubt the most brilliant, taxpayer-funded display of art, architecture and history in the country. That elegance does not translate to ease. Housing the largest full-time general assembly in the country and surrounded by an elaborate campus of state agencies, Harrisburg can have a labyrinthine feel. Say, for example, you have a meeting scheduled in the capitol. Once you find the right elevator, you discover your options are as follows: B, 1, E, 2, 3, 4, 5.

What now?

This mysterious “E floor” has perplexed visitors, interns and visiting lobbyists alike. It’s the entresol (pronounced ˈen(t)reˌsäl) floor, a mezzanine level that is shorter than the floors above it to make up for the tall ceilings of the main level, directly below. That is where the offices numbered in the 500s are located. And if you need to visit one of the offices in the 600s? That’s on the 5th floor, of course. It’s such a little thing but is indicative of how Pennsylvania government works; not everything will be intuitive, not everything will make sense.