| Admission to the Union | Sequence in Admission | Sequence in Capitols I Have Visited |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 1788 | 6th admitted | 15th visited |
I must say I am quite proud of this atmospheric photograph I took of the Massachusetts State House, although the architect, the builders, and nature did most of the work. I just framed the shot and pressed a button on my cellphone.
The Massachusetts State House sits atop Boston’s Beacon Hill, above the nation’s oldest city park, Boston Common. On this occasion, banners were hung from the building’s façade to support two of the city’s professional sports teams, which were competing in the playoffs in their respective leagues. The Celtics soon swept the New York Knicks, but were eliminated in the NBA Conference Semifinals by the Miami Heat. The Bruins, on the other hand, proceeded to win their first hockey championship in 39 years.
The state house was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, who is interred in the neighboring community of Cambridge. The dome is its most distinctive feature, but this flair was implemented long after Bulfinch died. When the capitol was first completed in 1798, the dome was covered in leaky wood shingles. It was first gilded in 1874.
On May 29, 1990 — what would have been John F. Kennedy’s 73rd birthday — a sculpture of the Massachusetts native in stride was dedicated on the statehouse grounds. The figure has stood far behind a fence for a number of years, so this was the closest image I could take. To look at the bronze POTUS from closer vantage points and different angles, view this post by my friend Kevin on his Instagram account, @unitedstatuesofamerica. His experience made him resolve not to hop any more fences at government buildings, but he left unscathed and got the photos he wanted.
Sources Consulted and Further Reading
@unitedstatuesofamerica. “Jogging into Monday with the Pretty Boy President.” Instagram, September 28, 2020. Accessed February 8, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFr3vwfFBkS/.
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “The State House.” Accessed February 8, 2022. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf3.htm.
