Massachusetts State House: Tales of the Golden Pinecone and the "Sacred Cod"

Yay for another week of adventures! I started the day with a free tour of the Massachusetts State House (tours offered weekdays 10am-4pm). State House...sounds pretty boring, huh? Well, I was pleasantly surprised with what I learned on the tour. Our knowledgeable tour guide had plenty of interesting stories to share. For example, did you know that the Mass State House has a golden pinecone on top of the dome? Apparently, it was placed there back in the 1800s when Massachusetts was the main exporter of lumber (soon to be outdone by Maine). It was supposed to remind the people how important lumber was to the Massachusetts economy. Since then, it is a symbol of hospitality. I can see where a pineapple may be a sign for hospitality but a golden pinecone, really?

The dome itself was not always golden. First it was tile and then Paul Revere's foundry covered it in copper. Once the copper lost its luster it was decided to plate it with gold. During WWII, it was painted to avoid easy targeting by potential enemy bombers. The gold was eventually restored although the most recent restoration in 1997 cost $300,000 for the gold leaf alone.

The original portion of the state house was designed by Charles Bulfinch and built in 1795-1798. Several additions were added later in the 1800s. The architecture, paintings, dome, and mosaic floors are impressive as is the grand staircase.

We were able to observe part of a session of the House and were able to see the "sacred cod." What is the "sacred cod?" Apparently, a merchant in the cod industry gave the House the wooden cod to remind them how important cod  and fishing was to the Massachusetts economy. The original burned in a fire but was replaced. In the 1930s, some mischievous Harvard students stole the sacred cod but decided to anonymously return it once officials started dredging the Charles River and scouring Boston for the precious wooden cod. Since then, it has been attached more securely to the ceiling. Apparently, the senate was jealous of the cod and incorporated a "holy mackerel" into their chandelier so they didn't feel left out on a good luck charm.

Highly recommend this tour although the tour guide you have makes a big difference. Try not to join a school group or a group that has a young college intern guide.

Massachusetts State House

George Washington Statue

Marble Floors

Civil War Nurses Monument

Murals Depicting Important Events in Massachusetts History

Mosaic Floors

Stained Glass Dome

Close up of the Dome Featuring the Massachusetts Seal

More Gorgeous Floors

The "sacred cod" (image from http://www.bu.edu/eeef/2008_logo.html)