Massachusetts State House

On a sunny day, the shimmering gold dome of the Massachusetts State House (617/727-3676, www.sec.state.ma.us/trs [1], 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily, free) building can be seen from miles around. The brick building beneath it is a tidy Federal structure designed by prominent Boston [2] architect Charles Bullfinch and built in 1798.

At the time, fifteen white columns were pulled up Beacon Street in a procession of 15 white horses, one for each state. The wooden dome on top was gilded in copper by Revolutionary renaissance man Paul Revere in 1802, and re-covered with 23-karat gold leaf in 1948. Two marble wings were added at the turn of the 20th century.

An impressive selection of statutes graces the Boston Common [3] side of the building. The equestrian statue in front of the main entrance depicts Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker, a Civil War general from Massachusetts who led the Army of the Potomac for all of six months. (There is no basis, however, to the urban myth that “hookers” are named after his troops, who were supposedly wont to visit brothels while on leave.)

Other statues in front of the State House are dedicated to 19th-century orator Daniel Webster and educator Horace Mann. In front of the wings are statues of two women martyrs: Anne Hutchinson, a freethinking Puritan who was banished to Rhode Island [4]; and Mary Dyer, a prominent Quaker minister sadly hanged on Boston Common [3] in 1660.

There isn’t much to see inside the State House, outside of more statues of various Massachusetts politicians. The most appealing item of interest is the “sacred Cod,” a five-foot-long pinewood fish that hangs over the chamber of the state House of Representatives. Given to the state by a Boston [2] merchant in 1784, it changes direction depending on which party is in control of the legislature.

Free tours of the State House, lasting approximately 40 minutes, are offered daily; advanced reservations are required.