
He began his long and distinguished political career as an alderman in Newton, and served for a short time as Middlesex District Attorney before being elected to the House in 1922. "Salty," as he was popularly known, was chosen Speaker in 1929, serving eight years during the Great Depression. The display was first installed in 1899 and is updated after each administration. Images of the earliest Speakers were reproduced from a variety of sources including extant paintings, prints, and line drawings until photographs could be obtained directly from each sitter. The John Stevens Shop, founded in 1705, had received the commission for the lettering on the Kennedy Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and was the natural choice for the Massachusetts project. As the speech was too long to replicate on the Speaker's rostrum, 111 words were carved into the same black slate used at the president's gravesite.
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Since its completion, the Massachusetts State House has been a site of debate and discussion. Representatives and members of the public have grappled with the essential principles of justice, liberty, and representation. Those who first struggled to gain access to the building still found ways to ensure their voices would be heard within its walls. Black and White abolitionists petitioned for the end of slavery and against the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law. African Americans petitioned for equal access to education, leading to the State Legislatures’ ban on segregated education in 1855. One corridor of the building's fourth floor is a sort of Newspaper Row, anchored by the large Press Gallery suite where reporters from a range of publications maintain desks.
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It was noted in Resolves of June 25, 1811 that the bust was intended for Representatives Hall. The coffee table was commissioned in 1988 of materials that correspond to those surrounding the fireplace. That in the President's office is of white, ochre and green onyx marble with brass fittings and original andirons with flame finials. H. Davenport Company, of Boston and New York, one of the largest and most prominent fine woodworking firms in the country. Circling the walls of the Speaker's Office are images of former Speakers dating back to the adoption of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780.
About the Collection

The budget “takes a fiscally responsible approach to making meaningful investments in areas of significant need,” state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said. In a statement, House Democratic leaders touted the spending plan, which came in $62 million below the budget proposal that Democratic Gov. Maura Healey rolled out in January. The Republican leadership in the House voted for the budget, with GOP Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, 3rd Hampden; David DeCoste, 5th Plymouth; Marc Lombardo, 22nd Middlesex, and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida, breaking ranks to vote against it. The tour is free, and the place is loaded to the gills (pun intended) with really interesting and cool art. The State House Art Collection commemorates significant historical events, and pays tribute to government leaders and private citizens who have helped shape the course of the Commonwealth.
Office of the Speaker of the House
HISTORYThe Massachusetts State House Art Collection dates back to the eighteenth century and is one of the oldest public art collections in the country. Over 300 artworks commemorate historical events and honor elected, military and civic leaders who have contributed to the formation, development, and defense of the Commonwealth and the nation. The collection originated at the Old State House in Boston, where portraits of early governors of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were acquired to replace royal portraits that had been destroyed during the War for Independence. When the “new” State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch, opened on Beacon Hill in 1798, this small group of paintings and the "Sacred Cod" were transferred and placed in one of the four primary spaces of the new capitol. The portrait collection grew slowly over the next hundred years with sporadic donations and bequests until 1899 when an appropriation was made to acquire the likenesses of former governors, resulting in twenty new additions.
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It bears the name of the regiment and the motto, "We carry the flag and keep step to the music of the Union." The position of color bearer during the Civil War was undoubtedly one of the proudest as well as one of the most dangerous a soldier could hold. The flags, always posted at the front, served as a beacon for one's fellow soldiers and the enemy alike. To "preserve the Union"—to never let it fall to the ground—was the gravest of responsibilities; one for which many color bearers gave their lives. The Boston Tea Party is sometimes called the first deliberate act of colonial resistance to British authority. At issue was the predisposition of the crown to pass laws and levy taxes without the consent of the colonists.
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Massachusetts park rangers win Never Quit award for heroic response to State House fire - afscme
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New claims to fishing rights both coastal and on the high seas, however, strained negotiations with England for years, and undoubtedly fueled Rowe's desire to reinstall the simple yet potent emblem over the heads of his fellow legislators. Curtis Guild was honored with this Italian-Renaissance style memorial shortly after his death. The elaborate marble frame was carved by the John Evans Shop which would later fabricate the plaque commemorating John F. Kennedy's "City on the Hill" address.
Bulfinch Front
House Minority Leader Brad Jones, who filed the proposal, said there could be reasonable uses of artificial intelligence in campaigns, but he believes lawmakers need to start considering potential guardrails on how it is deployed. The measure comes in direct response to the rise of use of AI in campaign materials. In January, for example, a fake robocall imitating the voice of President Biden roiled Democrats ahead of the New Hampshire presidential primary, sparking a criminal investigation.
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The glass ceiling provides wonderful natural light and the walls are decorated with flags of the cities and towns of Massachusetts. The room has Italian marble floors and Italian marble wainscoting with exposed yellow brick. Nearly a year after Healey’s $83,000-trade trip to the Emerald Isle, representatives tucked away the creation of a commission to evaluate Massachusetts-Ireland trade in their fiscal year 2025 budget without much fanfare.
In 1817, and was given charge of completing the construction of the capitol building. In 1785 the General Court began considering plans to construct a new state house for the Commonwealth. Charles Bulfinch, aged 24, home from study in London in 1787, submitted his design for a building before the location for the new capitol had even been finalized.

The gilded clock surround is decorated with symbols of strength and prosperity including oak leaves, cornucopia and eagle wings. The first General Court under the new Massachusetts Constitution convened at the Old State House on October 25, 1780, and Cushing was elected from the new state senators as their presiding officer. Among his duties during his one-week tenure, he delivered the oath of office to his life-long friend John Hancock as the first governor of the Commonwealth, under whom he served as Lt. Governor.
During the warmer months, you can even go for a ride on the famous Swan Boats in the adjacent Boston Public Garden. If you prefer a more visual experience, the Media Gallery offers a collection of photographs and videos showcasing various aspects of the State House, including its architectural details, famous artifacts, and significant rooms. This resource allows you to browse through captivating visuals and gain insights into the State House’s fascinating history and cultural significance.
The death of the country's first president prompted an outpouring of grief, followed quite naturally by proposals of memorials across the country. In Massachusetts, the Washington Monument Association, incorporated in 1811, decided on a figurative memorial. As there were no accomplished sculptors in America, however, they secured the services of Francis Chantrey, of London, in 1818 to provide a "pedestrian [standing] statue of George Washington in white marble." Nurses Hall was originally called Senate Staircase Hall as it contains one of two grand stairways to the legislative chambers on the third floor. The second Grand Staircase, located in the center of the Brigham Extension, leads to the entrance to the Chamber of the House of Representatives.
The marble bust of George Washington is the first art object acquired for the new Bulfinch State House. A receipt in the Massachusetts State Archives, issued in 1811 from the Commonwealth to I. P. Davis for "a marble bust of Washington," is believed to reference this sculpture.
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