Massachusetts State House
INFO
Contact Information:
24 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02133-1030
(617) 727-3676
Boston, MA 02133-1030
(617) 727-3676
Description:
The “new” State House was completed on January 11, 1798. It was designed by Charles Bulfinch and widely praised at the time. The land for the building was originally used as John Hancock's cow pasture. The State House's dome was once made of wood and overlaid with copper by Paul Revere. It was covered with 23 karat gold leaf for the first time in 1874. The dome was painted black during World War II to protect the city from bombing attacks. The State House dome was most recently gilded in 1997.
The State House is one of the oldest buildings on Beacon Hill, and its grounds cover 6.7 acres of land. It has been expanded several times over the years. The wings on either side of the front were added, as well as the large addition extending from the back of the building.
This building is known as the new State House, in order to differentiate it from the Old State House located on the corner of State and Congress streets.
The State House Tours Division now guides approximately 90,000 visitors annually through the halls of the State House. It provides an Architectural/Historical Tour and a Legislative Process Tour, as well as a number of brochures explaining the history of the State House and the passage of legislation. The Tours Division also provides its information in eight different languages and operates a desk which assists with questions on state government, locating personnel and various tourist inquiries. The desk has resource notebooks containing a wealth of information for school groups, journalists, historians and travel professionals. In addition, the Tours Division manages the operation of the State House Gift Cart, which offers souvenirs, books and other materials relating to the State House.
GETTING THERE
Driving and Parking:
By car from the North
Take Interstate 93 SOUTH to Exit 26, Storrow Drive and North Station. Stay in the LEFT lane and follow signs to Storrow Drive. Once out of the tunnel stay in LEFT lane and take the first exit on the LEFT towards Government Center and Kendall Square. Stay LEFT; at the blinking red light enter Charles Circle. Turn RIGHT onto Charles Street at the CVS. At the fifth light turn LEFT onto Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT.
By car from the South
Take Interstate 93 NORTH to Exit 23, Government Center. Stay in the LEFT lane onto North Street. Go through one set of lights. At the second set of lights, turn LEFT onto Congress Street. Take the first RIGHT onto State Street. State Street turns into Court Street. Turn LEFT onto Tremont Street. At the third light turn RIGHT onto Park Street. Follow Park Street up the hill to the State House.
By car from the West
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) EAST through the Boston tolls. Take Exit 22, Copley Square/Prudential. Stay in the RIGHT lane and follow the signs for Copley Square. This will lead you to Stuart Street. Continue straight through five lights. At the sixth light, turn LEFT on Charles Street South. Continue through two traffic lights passing by Boston Common. At the third light, make a RIGHT on Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT.
By car from Logan International Airport
Follow signs to the Sumner Tunnel to Boston, stay in the LEFT hand lane of the tunnel. Upon exiting the tunnel, follow the signs for Government Center. Take a LEFT at the first light. At the first traffic light continue straight onto New Chardon Street. Go through the next traffic light, (a Mobil gas station will be on your RIGHT). Continue straight, and at the next light make a LEFT onto Cambridge Street. Continue through three traffic lights. At fourth light, make a RIGHT on Park Street. Follow Park Street up the hill to the State House.
By car from the Northwest
Take Route 2 EAST into Cambridge, MA. This will lead you to the Fresh Pond Parkway. (This is a winding road.) Follow signs for downtown Boston and Storrow Drive EAST. Take Storrow Drive for approximately 5 miles. Get off at the exit for Government Center and Cambridge Street. At the end of the ramp at the traffic light, turn RIGHT onto Charles Street. At the fifth light turn LEFT onto Beacon Street. The State House will be on your LEFT.
The closest parking facility to the State House is the Boston Common Garage, operated by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Information can be obtained by calling them at (617) 954-2096.
Public Transportation:
Red Line (from Alewife, Ashmont or Braintree Stations)
Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Orange Line (from Oak Grove or Forest Hills Stations)
Take train to Downtown Crossing. Walk up Winter Street (away from Filenes and Macy’s) and turn RIGHT onto Tremont Street. Take first LEFT onto Park Street. Walk up Park Street to the State House.
Blue Line (from Wonderland or Airport Stations)
Take train to Government Center Station. At Government Center Station, take a LEFT onto Cambridge Street, which turns, into Tremont Street. Take first RIGHT onto Beacon Street. The State House is on the third block on the RIGHT.
Green Line (from the Riverside, Cleveland Circle, Boston College and Arborway Lines)
Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Commuter Rail (take train to either South Station or North Station)
From South Station, take the Red Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
From North Station, take the Green Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Take train to Downtown Crossing. Walk up Winter Street (away from Filenes and Macy’s) and turn RIGHT onto Tremont Street. Take first LEFT onto Park Street. Walk up Park Street to the State House.
Blue Line (from Wonderland or Airport Stations)
Take train to Government Center Station. At Government Center Station, take a LEFT onto Cambridge Street, which turns, into Tremont Street. Take first RIGHT onto Beacon Street. The State House is on the third block on the RIGHT.
Green Line (from the Riverside, Cleveland Circle, Boston College and Arborway Lines)
Take train to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Commuter Rail (take train to either South Station or North Station)
From South Station, take the Red Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
From North Station, take the Green Line to Park Street Station. Once outside the station walk up Park Street toward the State House.
Entrances:
Passing through security and metal detectors is required before entering the State House, and only two entrances can be used by the general public. The front entrance to the State House has stairs, but there is an accessible entrance on the Bowdoin Street side of the building.
GETTING AROUND
Features for People with Children:
State House Tours do have features of interest to children. Special tours can be arranged for school groups. The Secretary of State's Office has a webpage of fun kids' acitivities.
Features for People with Mobility Impairments:
The "Ashburton Park" entrance is wheelchair accessible and has power assist door openers. It is located on the Bowdoin Street side of the State House. The building does have elevators, although they are small. Ramps have been installed to make most offices accessible. The State House has an extremely dedicated and active accessiblity coordinator, Carl Richardson. His office is actively improving access to the State House on a regular basis. If you have concerns about access to the State House, please contact his office at 617.727.1100 x35502 or carl.richardson@state.ma.us.
Features for People with Hearing Impairments:
Assistive listening systems are available for State House Tours. There are also printed, self-guided tour materials.
Features for Non-English Speakers:
The State House Tours has printed materials available in eight foreign languages.
Bathrooms:
Bathrooms are located throughout the building, some of which are wheelchair accessible.
OTHER
Multimedia Access:
The Interactive State House is an evolving collection of on-line historical resources and fun facts about Massachusetts.