Massachusetts State House

Brief information

The Massachusetts State House stands atop Beacon Hill, but that summit is not entirely natural in its present form: before construction, John Hancock’s former pasture was lowered by about 15 meters. So the building should be read not only by its facade, but also by how it is set on the hill: here, state power literally occupied a reworked site above Beacon Street and opposite Boston Common.

The central part of the building appeared in 1795–1798, designed by Charles Bulfinch. Today the State House houses the state House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the governor’s offices. The name “new State House” is a reminder that this is not Boston’s first center of power: it is distinguished from the Old State House. This detail changes how the place is seen: before us is not a solitary monument, but a later stage of the city’s political scene.

What to notice first

The main focus of the visit is how the building reveals its alterations through materials and color. At the facade, it is worth noticing the raised portico with Corinthian columns: it defines the ceremonial entrance and emphasizes the central section from the late 18th century. The red brick facade did not always look this way either: in the 19th century it was painted white, and in 1928 the paint was removed, restoring the front side’s red color.

The dome reads as its own story of adaptations. At first it was covered with wooden shingles, but because of leaks it was sheathed in copper; later it was gilded, painted black during World War II, and then gilded again. At the top stands a gilded pinecone, a symbol of Massachusetts forests: this small detail explains why the crowning of the building is not merely decorative. Behind the central section, one can mentally distinguish the later additions: the yellow-brick extension at the rear and the east and west wings.