Boston National Historical Park | MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE: DORIC HALL

Doric Hall in 1897 (photo from the Boston Public Library)

Doric Hall in 1897 (photo from the Boston Public Library)

MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE TOUR STOP 1
DORIC HALL

The first stop on a tour of the Massachusetts State House is Doric Hall, the main hall of the original building designed by Charles Bulfinch. It takes its name from the ten Doric-style columns that reside in the hall. These were originally made from pine trees imported from Maine, which at the time was part of Massachusetts, but later replaced by plaster and iron replicas in order to meet fire codes.

Before the Charles Brigham additions were made to the building in the early 1890s, Doric Hall was the largest room in the State House, and it served as the reception hall for all major events. It is also where a number of portraits and statues of historical figures are displayed. The first statue ever placed in Doric Hall is of George Washington by sculptor Sir Frances Chantrey (1827). The statue depicts Washington in a Roman-style toga as a symbol of democracy. However, Bostonians thought it made him look like an emperor, and they wanted it removed. Chantrey published an article in the Boston Gazette claiming that it wasn’t a toga, but a blanket Washington was wearing to keep warm at Valley Forge. The story was believed, and the statue was allowed to remain.

Statue of George Washington in Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House

Statue of George Washington in Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House


Stop 2: Nurses Hall | State House Main Page

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Last updated on January 30, 2024
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