Old State House (Boston)

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West front of the Old State House, circa July 2003.

East Front showing the balcony from which the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston took place. Note the lion and unicorn on the roof of the building, the same used in the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, reminiscent of the building’s past.

The Old State House is a historic building located at the intersection of Washington and State Streets in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1713, it is the oldest surviving public building in Boston, and the seat of the first elected legislature in the new world. It is now operated by the Bostonian Society, Boston's historical society. It is one of many historic landmarks that can be visited along the Freedom Trail.

1 Seat of colonial government
2 Seat of municipal and state government
3 The building today
4 U.S. Bicentennial celebration
5 The replicas
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Seat of colonial government

The original building housed a Merchant's Exchange on the first floor and warehouses in the basement. On the second floor, the east side contained the Council Chamber of the Royal Governor while the west end of the second floor contained chambers for the Courts of Suffolk County and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The central portion contained the chambers for the elected Massachusetts Assembly. This chamber is notable for including public galleries, the first known example of such a feature being included in a chamber for elected officials.

View of the old state house among surrounding buildings

In 1761, James Otis argued against the Writs of Assistance in the Royal Council Chamber. Though losing the case, Otis's speech was one of the events which led to the American Revolution. During this period, a Stamp Act Congress was formed in the Massachusetts Assembly chamber. On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the east side balcony to jubilant crowds by Col. Thomas Crafts (on of the Sons of Liberty). At one o'clock Col. Crafts rose in the Council Chamber and read it to the members. Then fellow patriot, Sherrif William Greenleaf had attempted to read it from the balcony, but he could only muster a whisper. Col. Crafts then stood next to the sherrif and read it from the balcony in a stentorian tone. After which, on a signal given, thirteen pieces of cannon were fired from the fort on Fort-hill; the forts at Dorchester Neck, the Castle, Nantasket, and Point Alderton likewise discharged their cannon. Then the detachment of artillery fired their cannon thirteen times, which was followd by the two regiments giving their fire from the thireen divisions in succession. These firings corresponded to the number of the American states united. The ceremony was closed with a proper collation to the gentlemen in the Council Chamber; during which the following toasts were given by the president of the council and heartly pleaged by the company, viz.:

'Prosperity and perpetuity to the United States of Amercia.'

'The American Congress.'

'General Washington, and success to the arms of the United States.'

'The downfall of tyrants and tyranny.'

'The universal prevalence of civil and religious liberty.'

'The friends of the United States in all quarters of the globe.'

The bells in town were rung on the occasion, and festivity cheered and brightened evey face. On the same evening, the King's arms and every sign with any resemblance of it, whether Lion and Crown, Pestle and Mortar, and Crown, Heart and Crown, etc., together with every sign that belonged to a Tory, were taken down, and the latter made a general conflagration of in King street.

[edit] Seat of municipal and state government

After the American Revolution, the building served as the seat of the Massachusetts state government before its move to the present Massachusetts State House in 1798. From 1830 to 1841, the building was Boston's city hall before being converted to commercial use. In 1881, after threats of the building's being dismantled and moved to Chicago, Illinois, the Old State House was restored to its original exterior appearance.

[edit] The building today

Inside the Old State House

Today, tall buildings of Boston's financial district surround the Old State House. An excellent view of the building can still be seen, however, along State Street from a good distance away on the harborfront. The Old State House has become a major public transportation connection point, sitting atop the State Street station on the MBTA's Blue and Orange subway lines. The building houses a museum and its original upper level chambers are preserved for posterity by the The Bostonian Society. The Old State House is a popular wedding venue. Ceremonies are usually held in the Council Chamber, the room on the east side, adjacent to the balcony. Couples may be photographed on the balcony following their ceremony.

Also located on the Freedom Trail is a cobblestone ring on the traffic island in front of the east side of the Old State House. This ring marks the site where five colonists were killed by the British on March 5, 1770, in the event that became known as The Boston Massacre. Three of the five colonists killed included Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, and Patrick Carr.

[edit] U.S. Bicentennial celebration

On July 11, 1976, as part of her Boston visit to celebrate the bicentenary of the United States of America, Queen Elizabeth II toured the Old State House with her husband. She was shown a sample of original tea from the Boston Tea Party of 1773. She appeared on the historic balcony with Prince Philip and delivered an address to a large audience which included Mayor Kevin White of Boston, Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, poet David McCord, and historian Walter Muir Whitehill. The Queen said, in part,

"If Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and other patriots could have known that one day a British monarch would stand on the balcony of the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston, and be greeted in such kind and generous words ...... well, I think they would have been extremely surprised! But perhaps they would also have been pleased to know that eventually we came together again as free peoples and friends to defend together the very ideals for which the American Revolution was fought."

The Boston Massacre took place in front of the balcony and the original site is marked by a cobblestone circle in the square.

The Queen presented a porcelain eagle made by Aynsley China Ltd. as a gift to the Bostonian Society, which operates the Old State House. The Queen also attended a morning service at Old North Church, had a formal lunch at Boston City Hall, and took a motorcade ride through Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Cambridge, and Charlestown. She toured USS Constitution with the Secretary of the U.S. Navy before sailing out of Boston Harbor on the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia. The Queen hosted a 90-minute reception on her yacht for 250 invited guests from Massachusetts before departure.

[edit] The replicas

There are two replicas of the Old State House in Massachusetts. One is the Weymouth Town Hall, located on Middle Street in Weymouth, about a half mile from the birthplace of Abigail Adams. The other is the State House residence hall on the campus of Curry College in Milton, just outside Boston. A facade of Davenport College at Yale University was inspired by the Old State House.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Old State House History. The Bostonian Society. May 16, 2005.

Boston Celebrates July '76, Boston 200 Office of the Boston Bicentennial, Kevin H. White, Mayor. Published Boston, MA: Addison House, 1976. ISBN 0-89169-011-5 (paperback) and 0-89169-010-7 (cloth).