Built in 1798, the original State House was once owned by Massachusetts first elected governor, John Hancock. Now, it’s the building for The House of Representatives.

The dome, originally made out of wood, is now swathed in copper and covered by 23 karat gold. These are added to prevent leaks into the State House. Charles Bullfinch, the leading architect of the day, designed the building.
Even though the New State House was redesigned, it still holds the traditional Sacred Cod. It’s a wooden codfish that’s hanged across the chambers of the building. The Sacred Cod signifies the importance of the fishing industry to the Commonwealth. Another conventional piece in the New State House can be found at the top of the golden dome. There sits a wooden pinecone which symbolizes logging in Boston during the 18th century.

The New State House is a nice place to visit because of the mix of its sophisticated, contemporary aesthetic with the rich, vibrant culture of Boston.