What Is the Massachusetts State House?
It’s the Massachusetts State Capitol building!
What Makes It Historical?
Considered the first American-born professional architect to practice, Charles Bulfinch served as one of Boston’s Selectmen and designed the Massachusetts State House to fill a plot of pasture donated by another former Selectman, John Hancock! Mr. Bulfinch drew inspiration from two buildings in London: the Somerset House designed by Sir William Chambers, and James Wyatt’s domed entertainment hall called the Pantheon! The cornerstone went down on July 4, 1795 with Paul Revere presiding, and it took almost three years and five times the original budget to complete! Mr. Revere, as the first American to make a business from copper sheathing, also arranged to have the leaky wooden dome covered in copper! The dome got plenty of makeovers over the years. It was gilded in 1874, then painted gray during World War II to prevent bombing, gilded again in 1969 and a third time in 1997!
There are some real quirks to this capitol building too! The main doors of Doric Hall only open on three occasions: the visit by a president or head of state, the departure of a governor on their last day, and when regimental flags return from battle. Additionally, since 1784, there’s been an enormous “Sacred Cod” hanging from the ceiling of the House of Representatives! It was painted to be lifelike in honor of the cod industry that helped build Massachusetts! The second floor is also home to rare murals by Edward Brodney, who used his family members as models and focuses the military-themed paintings around women (which is what makes them so rare)!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Boston Landmarks Commission!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
24 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02133
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Unlike most capitol buildings, the Massachusetts State House is open every day, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM!