Massachusetts State House

The Massachusetts State House sits at 24 Beacon Street on the crest of Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts, overlooking Boston Common. Architect Charles Bulfinch designed the original brick building, and the cornerstone was laid on 4 July 1795 by Governor Samuel Adams, with Paul Revere taking part in the ceremony. Revere's company sheathed the wooden dome in copper in 1802, protecting it from leaks, and it was later gilded in gold leaf, in 1874 and again in 1997 using 23-karat gold. The building is a landmark of Federal-style architecture, with a Corinthian portico and a pediment, and it was expanded in 1895-98 with a large yellow-brick extension at the rear, and again in the 1910s with marble wings, so that the original Bulfinch front is now only one part of a larger complex. It houses the offices of the governor, the legislature, the House and Senate chambers and the Senate reading room. Highlights inside include Memorial Hall, with battle flags from Massachusetts regiments, the Hall of Flags with murals depicting the state's history, the Great Hall and the Senate Chamber. The Sacred Cod, a carved codfish symbolizing the state's fishing industry, hangs in the House of Representatives chamber, and a statue of Mary Dyer and one of Anne Hutchinson stand outside. Visitors can take free guided tours, offered on weekdays, led by volunteers and staff of the Massachusetts State House tour program, who follow a thematic approach centered on government and history. The building has been repeatedly restored, including work on the dome and the interior murals, and it remains a working seat of government. Security screening is required at the entrance, and the tour takes about 45 minutes to an hour. A visit is typically paired with the neighboring Shaw Memorial and Boston Common.