Old State House

206 Washington St

The current building includes some of the original bricks. This is one of the oldest public buildings in the United States, originally built in 1713 as a ‘Town House’ it housed the colonial government in Boston. The first floor of the building housed a merchants’ exchange, and the second floor was used politically.

The Royal Governor of the colony used this building as his office and would frequently issue declarations from the second story balcony. In addition to royal representatives using the building, the elected members of Massachusetts legislature also met in the building. Included in the room where they met was a public viewing gallery, the first of its kind. Also located in the building was the Supreme Judicial Court, where in 1761, patriot James Otis argued vehemently against the Writs of Assistance, a British law which many Bostonians believed allowed unlawful search and seizures.

This was the seat of British Colonial power and center of civic life in Colonial Boston and was where folks like Sam Adams John Hancock and James Otis Jr would argue against the policies of the British Crown. Royal Officials met in the Council Chamber and served as direct representatives of the King’s rule. Only aristocracy, or white male landowners could either enter or vote, so commoners would congregate outside and listen to Governor’s declarations from the balcony.

On the front of the building is a balcony where, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time and cause a mini-riot during which the Lion and Unicorn (symbols of Britain) which sit on top of the Old State House were ripped down and burnt in a bonfire. The gilded Lion and Unicorn were put back up on the Old State House in 1883 when the building was refurbished.

Tours inside for both Colonial Parliament and Boston Massacre – highly recommended

-Source Links-

https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/osh.htm

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/old-state-house-boston

https://bostonhistory.squarespace.com/kingstreet/2015/08/bostons-liberty-tree-illuminated-part-i.html