Massachusetts State House

Introduction

The Massachusetts State House, atop Beacon Hill in Boston, houses the state legislature and governor office and is one of America oldest state capitol buildings. Designed by renowned architect Charles Bulfinch and completed in 1798, it is an outstanding example of American Federal architecture, its iconic golden dome a striking feature of the Boston skyline. The dome was originally wood-shingled, later gilded in real gold, gleaming in sunlight as one of Boston most classic landmarks. The interior is richly decorated, the rotunda dome painted with grand murals of Massachusetts history; the legislative chambers retain Bulfinch original seats and voting boxes, still in use. Portraits of governors and historic artifacts hang inside, including a restored office of John F. Kennedy as U.S. Senator. The Beacon Hill site was a starting point of Boston Freedom Trail, surrounded by 19th-century red-brick rowhouses and cobblestone lanes, Boston most historic neighborhood. Free guided tours lead visitors through Massachusetts political history from colony to modern times.

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