How to Explore the History and Beauty of the Massachusetts State House

After spending a great weekend with our grand kids, we decided to visit the Massachusetts state house in Boston. This state house was number three on our Visit All Capitols Quest. (New Hampshire and Vermont were our first). As always, it was fun to learn new things about our country’s history.

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Where is The Massachusetts State House?

First things first, where is this state house? When Google assured us that it was on 24 Beacon Street in Boston, we trusted it… Still, we managed to get lost on the way there (story of my life). Who knew there would be another 24 Beacon Street in Boston?! Or that either Google Maps or I would mess up…

It was pretty far away from the one we were actually seeking! So please be aware that your GPS might not correctly point you to the address of the capitol. Don’t make our mistake and lose time by being stuck in Boston traffic.

Using Public Transport to the State House

I wish we would have been able to use public transport, but we could not do it that day, due to time constraints. Recommending public transport instead of a car.

Parking

It was a lot of driving but we eventually made it. Now it was time to  confront the next obstacle: parking! After some circling, we lucked out and found street parking close to the front of the state house. If you can not find street parking, try the Boston Common underground Garage. It is close by the state house.

The Massachusetts State House

We made quick work of the obligatory selfie, and found out that this was the first state house where we actually had to go through a metal detector. I know for sure New Hampshire allows concealed weapons, I still have to research whether Vermont does.

Since we are on a quest to visit all full size Liberty Bell replicas, we asked about the Massachusetts liberty bell replica. A puzzled looking person referred us to the second floor, where interns conduct statehouse tours. The interns referred us back to security, so that wasn’t very helpful. They also pointed out where the bell was vaguely visible from a window if you climbed over enough tables. Tom took a picture through the window…

We were disappointed, but not ready to give up on the bell.

Fun Facts about the Massachusetts State House

For now, we joined one of the tours and were very impressed by all the information. The tour was extensive and informative. The state house building was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch and was completed in 1798. We found out that there were many Italians working on the state house, actually so many that this was how the North End of Boston got its start. Because Tom is from Italian heritage, we always are interested in Italian-American history and this was a fact we didn’t know yet.

Italian Marble

The marble actually came from Italy, which I assumed would not have fossils, unlike the Vermont and New Hampshire ones. The whole interior of the state house was very ornate and decorative, we enjoyed looking at all the grandeur.

I was happy to see a hall named Nurses’ Hall with the statue of an Army war nurse. Sculpted in 1914 by Bela Pratt, it was the first statue erected in honor of the women of the North after the Civil War. I also was happily surprised by six works of art, to honor six women who took a leadership roll in Massachusetts.

Foodie Travelers, Yes, there is a Cafeteria

We made a quick stop at the cafeteria, just to see whether it was possible to eat inside of the state house, since that was one of the things which surprised us in Vermont. Although it turns out that all three of the state houses we visited had a cafeteria inside, so I suspect it might be a common feature of all our state houses.

Conclusion Massachussetts State House

In conclusion, the Massachusetts State House is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and anyone looking to immerse themselves in the rich culture of Boston. So next time you find yourself in Boston, make sure to carve out some time to visit this iconic landmark.

Though were happy to have visited another state house, we were disappointed that we hadn’t been able to visit the liberty bell replica. We tried security again and the reply was ‘Nobody gets to see the liberty bell!’ which felt like an oxymoron… Find out the ending of the Quest for Liberty Bell Replica #3 !

Share your experiences at the Massachusetts State House in the comments and keep the conversation going. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you there on your next trip to Boston.

Bonus: The Old State House in Boston

A few years after we visited this state house, we found out that the Old State House in Boston still is standing. Visiting the museum we discovered Why We Were So Mad at The British, The Old State House in Boston.

Other State Houses to Visit

• Ten Surprising New Hampshire State House Facts New Hampshire people are cheapskates!
• Ten Surprising Vermont State House Facts Discover ancient fossils;
• The Maine State House With bells on;
• The Massachusetts State House Where the Boston Italian North End was born;
• The Old State House in Boston, site of the Boston Massacre.
• Connecticut Capitol Fun Facts Home of the so-called “Black Law”;
• Rhode Island State House: Ten Surprising Facts Discover its Dutch history;
• New York State Capitol. An expensive boondoggle;
• Alaska Capitol. Which animal guards it?
• Washington State Capitol. Women’s suffrage for the win!
• Breaking news: why Puerto Rico has a State House of its own!
• The US Virgin Islands have a Capitol Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Voted the state Capitol building with the best view!
• Get inspired by our Travel Quests and start your own!

More New England Fun Things To Do

• Wickedly Awesome Whale Watching at Cape Cod!
• Raptors and Spiders in Vermont: a treetop walk;
• Kennebunkport, Maine: Insider tips for an Incredible Visit;
• Visit the house of Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire, the 14th President of the USA;
• Travel to Vermont during Covid-19.
• Where to find the best fall foliage in New England;
• Visit the Maine State House in Augusta
• Or Live Free or Die at the New Hampshire State House;
• Explore the Vermont State House in Montpelier;
• Boston has two state houses! The Old State House and the current Massachusetts’s capitol.