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Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA

Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

Massachusetts State House

24 Beacon St · Boston, MA

Why you should go…

Charles Bulfinch designed this capitol on Beacon Street, completed in 1798 facing Boston Common. Its dome, first sheathed in copper by Paul Revere's company in 1802, is now gilded in 23-karat gold and topped with a gilded pine cone. Docents lead free walking tours of about 45 minutes that begin in Doric Hall and pass marble corridors and ceremonial rooms. Look for the Sacred Cod, a wooden fish that has hung in the House chamber since 1784.

  • #state capitol
  • #freedom trail
  • #guided tour
  • #historic building
  • #beacon hill

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Massachusetts State House, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Granary Burying Ground

    Free

    A 1660 burial ground on the Freedom Trail where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock rest among slate headstones.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The Freedom Trail

    Free

    Follow the famous red brick line past 16 Revolutionary landmarks, from Boston Common to Bunker Hill.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free Entry

    Boston Common Visitor Center

    Free

    Meet Boston's walk-in visitor center on the Tremont Street edge of Boston Common, beside Park Street station, with maps, brochures and attraction tickets.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Eat & Drink
    Foodie Favorite

    Union Oyster House

    Free

    Eat oysters and seafood at the original oyster bar inside a Georgian building on Boston's Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Eat & Drink
    Iconic

    Cheers Beacon Hill

    $25–$50

    The real Beacon Hill bar whose exterior inspired the TV sitcom Cheers, tucked beneath the historic Hampshire House.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Boston Public Garden & Swan Boats

    Free

    America's first public botanical garden, weeping willows, the Make Way for Ducklings statues, and famous Swan Boats.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor