State House

The golden dome of the State House forms a focal point for the city of Boston, while inside it’s hallowed halls senators and representatives go about the business of running the state of Massachusetts.

Standing proudly on Beacon Hill overlooking Boston Common , the State House was built between 1795 and 1798 and was dubbed by Wendell Holmes “the Hub of the Solar System”. The red brick building was designed by Bostonian architect Charles Bulfinch, who went on to design the state capitols for Connecticut and Maine. The dome, which has long been a Boston landmark was originally made of wood, but this would leak on the politicians below, so in 1802 Paul Revere was commissioned to cover it with copper. But as copper oxidises it turns a putrid green colour and the Bostonians decided on a more appropriate gold leafing in 1874.

Visitors can check out what is inside the gold dome with free guided tours running weekdays every half hour. Tours start in the Doric Hall in the original part of the building. Overlooking the hall is a rare portrait of Abraham Lincoln seen standing, while opposite is a painting of John Hancock, the first elected governor of Massachusetts and the man famous for being the first signatory of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock was one of the richest men in the colonies and he owned the land that the State House now stands on. Ironic for a man famous for his signature, Hancock died before signing his own will and the land was given back to the state.

Up the stairs from the Doric Hall you come to the Nurses Hall, added to the building in 1895. This hall is dedicated to the nurses of the civil war and in the centre is a Daniel Chester French bronze statue of William Francis Bartlett, a Massachusetts Civil War hero. The hall also features murals depicting events in the run up to American Independence, such as Paul Revere’s Midnight Run, James Otis arguing against the writs of assistance in the Old State House and the Boston Tea Party.

One of the most hallowed parts of the State House is Memorial Hall also known as the Hall of Flags. Here Massachusetts’ soldiers are honoured with a collection of regimental flags from the numerous wars they have fought in. Indeed they have fought in so many that there were over 400 flags an today the hall contains eight of the famous ones.

The Tour also takes you to the Senate and the House of Representatives were the business of governing Massachusetts takes place. Both branches of government are open to the public and you can even sit in and watch a session. One of the more unusual sights in the State House is the Sacred Cod, a life-sized wooden carving of a codfish, which hangs above the representatives’ chamber. This was given to the house in 1784 by fishermen to remind the politicians of the importance of Cod Fisheries to the state and to remind them of who pays their wages!

Tradition holds that the House will not meet if the cod is not in the room, a tradition that was tested in 1933, when pranksters kidnapped (or codnapped!) the sacred fish.

Location:
Beacon Street, Boston. Take the Green or Red lines to the Park Street stop.

Opening Times:
Monday – Friday: 10am-4pm

Admission fees:
Free