New Hampshire State House facts for kids
The New Hampshire State House is a very important building in Concord. It's where the government of New Hampshire works! Inside, you'll find the New Hampshire General Court (which is like the state's parliament), the Governor, and the Executive Council. The building is located on a block surrounded by Park Street, Main Street, Capitol Street, and North State Street.
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Building the State House
The idea for the current State House came about in 1814. The city of Concord actually paid for its design. In 1816, a group called the Quakers sold their land to the state. The building was then constructed between 1816 and 1819 by an architect named Stuart Park.
The State House was built in a style called Greek Revival. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples, with smooth granite blocks. The main entrance has a small porch with strong Doric columns. Above this, there's a balcony with more columns and a triangular top part called a pediment.
The windows on the first floor are rectangular. Those on the second floor have arches, and the third-floor windows are square. On top of the building, there's a golden dome. It has round windows and a small tower on top. In 1818, a large wooden war eagle statue was placed on the dome. Later, in 1957, it was replaced with a new "peace eagle" statue. The original eagle is now kept safe at the New Hampshire Historical Society.
The Grounds Around the Building
The area around the State House is about 2.6 acres and has a granite fence. There are no gates, showing that it's "the people's house" and open to everyone. You can find seven statues and memorials on the grounds. They were put there at different times, from 1886 to 1998.
| Subject | Designer or artist | Date dedicated |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State Daniel Webster | Thomas Ball | June 17, 1886 |
| General John Stark | Carl Conrads (statue), John A. Fox (pedestal) | October 23, 1890 |
| Senator John Parker Hale | William E. Chandler (sponsor) | August 3, 1892 |
| Commodore George Hamilton Perkins | Daniel Chester French (sculptor), Henry Bacon (architect) | April 25, 1902 |
| President Franklin Pierce | Henry Augustus Lukeman | November 25, 1914 |
| Liberty Bell replica | n/a | July 5, 1950 |
| New Hampshire Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial | Emil Birch | September 26, 1998 |
Inside the State House: Doric Hall
When you enter the State House, you step into the Doric Hall. It's also known as the Hall of Flags. This hall was designed to look like a similar hall in the Massachusetts State House. Here, you can see 107 battle flags from New Hampshire. These flags represent soldiers who fought in wars like the Civil War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
The Senate Chamber
The Senate Chamber is in the northeast part of the State House. This is where the 24 members of the New Hampshire Senate meet to make laws.
Large arched windows let in a lot of light. Behind the main speaker's stand, there are big murals. These paintings show important moments from the state's history. For example, one mural shows the first graduation at Dartmouth College. Another shows Daniel Webster reading the U.S. Constitution. There are also paintings of an artist teaching and a general preparing for battle. These murals were painted by Barry Faulkner in 1942.
The House Chamber
The House Chamber is where the New Hampshire House of Representatives meets. This is the largest state law-making group in the United States, with 400 members! Like the Senate Chamber, it has large arched windows. On the main wall, you can see portraits of important figures like John P. Hale, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Pierce, and Daniel Webster.
History of the State House
The New Hampshire State House first opened for government meetings in 1819. It's special because it's the oldest state capitol building where both parts of the state legislature still meet in their original rooms.
Back in 1814, people started talking about building a proper state capitol. Three towns wanted to be the capital: Concord, Hopkinton, and Salisbury. Salisbury even offered $7,000! But in 1816, the lawmakers chose Concord. The Granite used to build the capitol came from local quarries. Prisoners from the state prison helped cut and shape the stone.
The State House cost about $82,000 to build. It was designed to hold the General Court, the Governor, the Secretary of State, the State Treasurer, and the State Library.
From 1973 to 1979, during Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr.'s time, the lights on the golden dome were turned off to save energy. This caused some debate because the lit-up dome was a well-known symbol of Concord. Later, with the help of other lawmakers, the lights were turned back on when Hugh Gallen became governor.
In 2016, the golden dome was covered with new 24-karat gold leaf. This process has happened several times over the years to keep the dome shining brightly. The 2016 project cost $2.8 million.
See also
In Spanish: Casa del Estado de Nuevo Hampshire para niños
