New Jersey State House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Jersey State House |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | American Renaissance |
| Location | 125 West State Street Trenton, New Jersey United States |
| Coordinates | 40°13′14″N 74°46′12″W / 40.220437°N 74.769902°W |
| Construction started | 1792 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Client | State of New Jersey |
| Owner | State of New Jersey |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Jonathon Doane (1792), John Notman (1845), Samuel Sloan (1871), Lewis Broome (1889), James Moylan (1891) |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Designated: | August 27, 1976 |
| Part of: | State House Historic District |
| Reference #: | 76001161 |
The New Jersey State House is the main building for the government of New Jersey. It's like the state's headquarters! Located in Trenton, it's one of the oldest state capitol buildings in the United States that is still used by lawmakers. It's actually the third oldest!
A fun fact about the State House is how close it is to the border with Pennsylvania. This makes it the closest state capitol building to another state's border. Inside, you'll find the rooms where the New Jersey Legislature meets. This includes the Senate and the General Assembly.
The building also has offices for the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and many other state government groups. Over the years, the State House has been made bigger and updated many times. This was done to meet the needs of New Jersey's growing population.
The New Jersey State House looks different from most other U.S. capitol buildings. Many of them look like the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Instead of being in a big park, New Jersey's State House is right in the middle of a city. You can even take tours to see it up close!
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History of the State House
The New Jersey State House has a long and interesting history. It has changed a lot since it was first built.
Early Construction and Growth
In 1790, the state's lawmakers moved to Trenton. Two years later, in 1792, construction began on the new State House. It was designed by an architect named Jonathan Doane. His original building was covered in stucco and was about 150 feet long. It had separate rooms for the Senate and the House.
As New Jersey grew, the State House needed to grow too! So, it was expanded many times in the 1800s.
- In 1845, architect John Notman added a new office wing.
- In 1865, the part of the building facing the river was made larger.
- In 1871, Samuel Sloan designed new wings for both the Senate and Assembly.
Fire and Rebuilding
A big fire damaged the State House on March 21, 1885. After the fire, architect Lewis Broome led the rebuilding. He added a new rotunda (a round hall with a dome) and a dome. He also gave the building a new look with limestone on the outside.
In 1891, James Moylan, who was also a lawmaker, helped redesign the Assembly wing. He changed its style and how it was placed. More additions were made in 1900 and 1906. By 1912, with even more extensions, the State House reached its current size. The main hallway was updated in 1950.
Modern Renovations
The State House has had big renovation projects in recent times.
- A major project started in 1987. It updated the parts of the building where laws are made. It also improved the building's systems and added new office spaces. A parking garage and a tunnel were also built.
- Another big renovation began in 2017. This project cost $300 million and focused on the Governor's Office and other executive branch areas. These renovated parts officially reopened on May 1, 2023.
Building Design
The New Jersey State House looks quite different from many other state capitol buildings in the U.S. Most state capitols often look similar to the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
The State House is shaped a bit like the letter H. It has two main parts connected by a round hall with a dome on top, called the rotunda. A long wing extends from the rotunda towards the Delaware River. Over time, different parts have been added to this wing.
Unlike many state capitols that are in big, open park areas, the New Jersey State House is built right into the city of Trenton. It's surrounded by other government buildings along historic State Street. The best view of the building is from the west, near the Delaware River. From State Street, the dome is hard to see, and you don't get a full sense of how big the building is. The Governor's office is located in the oldest part of the building, which dates back to 1792.
Tours for Visitors
You can visit the New Jersey State House! Tours are offered Monday through Saturday, except on state holidays.
During a tour, you can usually see:
- The galleries of the Senate and Assembly chambers (where you can look down at the lawmakers' rooms).
- Party conference rooms.
- The rotunda (the round hall with the dome).
- The Governor's Office reception room.
Teachers can even get money from the Eagleton Institute to help pay for transportation for school field trips to the State House. This helps middle and high school students learn about their state government.
See also
In Spanish: Casa del Estado de Nueva Jersey para niños
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
- List of state and territorial capitols in the United States
