State House Tours

Oliver Wendell Holmes called the State House “the hub of the solar system.” Affectionately known as the “People’s House,” the State House is the seat of our state government and is a great monument reflecting the history of Massachusetts since colonial times. Opened in 1798, the State House is the oldest building on Beacon Hill. The building and its grounds cover two city blocks.

You are welcome to visit any weekday from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. State House tours are conducted by the staff of the Tours and Government Education Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, and are free of charge. Tours last approximately 30-45 minutes and include an overview of the history and architecture of the State Capitol. Visitors can see the House and Senate Chambers, Memorial Hall, Nurse’s Hall, the Great Hall of Flags, and much more.

The videos below are from Franklin.TV’s Frank Presents show where Rep. Roy offered a tour of the State House. The second video features the Senate Chamber with Rep. Roy and Senator Richard Ross. And the third clip is from WCVB’s Chronicle show, which features a 2-minute glimpse of the building.