Old State House

Address:206 Washington St.
Boston, Massachusetts
Tel: (617) 720-1713

The Old State House is treasured for its associations with significant historical events and admired for its architectural quality. The oldest surviving public building in Boston, Massachusetts, Old State House was built in 1713 to house the government offices of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It stands on the site of Boston's first Town House, which burned in 1711, and its symmetrical composition and use of red brick with rusticated brownstone and painted wood trim reflect late English Baroque architecture.

Visitors to the Old State House will find costumed interpreters standing ready to answer questions when they arrive. Upstairs on the right is the Senate chamber, with a full-length painting of the first president by the indefatigable George Washington portraitist Gilbert Stuart. From the North, take 93 South to exit 24 B-A. Follow signs for 24 A/GOV'T CENTER. Off the ramp, turn left onto John Fitzgerald Surface Road. Travel 1m and turn right onto State Street. The Old State House is on the corner of Washington Street, but you will see the building in front of you as you come up State Street.

Visitors to the Old State House Museum will be able to see the museum's collection of Arkansas's First Ladies' Gowns. The collection began in 1942 and is not only one of the most popular exhibits in the museum, but is also one of the most unique collections of its kind in the United States.