New Hampshire State House

Granite State Capitol Completed In 1819, Described As The Oldest State Capitol In Which The Legislature Still Meets In Its Original Chambers; Home Of A House Of Representatives Of About 400 Members, Among The Largest Legislative Bodies In The English Speaking World. · Concord, New Hampshire

The granite capitol of New Hampshire, standing behind a lawn and a row of statues on Main Street in the middle of Concord. It was completed in 1819 and is described as the oldest state capitol in the country in which the legislature still meets in its original chambers. The House of Representatives has about 400 members, which makes it one of the largest legislative bodies in the English-speaking world, and when it sits the public gallery looks down on rows of citizen legislators who are paid almost nothing. The Senate meets across the hall in a far smaller room. The building is free to visit on weekdays: a visitor center on the ground floor hands out maps and arranges tours, the Hall of Flags keeps the state's battle flags from the Civil War onward, and the corridors are lined with portraits of governors and notable people. Every four years, presidential candidates come to the Secretary of State's office here to file for the first-in-the-nation primary, a ritual watched by the national press. A gilded eagle tops the dome, and statues of Webster and others face the street.

107 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire, 03301, United States

The State House and its visitor center are generally open on weekdays during normal business hours, roughly 8 am to 4:30 pm, and closed on weekends and state holidays (confirm current hours before a trip). Entry is through a security screening point. The House and Senate sit mainly from January to June, usually on set days of the week, and the galleries are open to the public when they do; outside the session the chambers can often be seen on a tour. Hours can change for special events, ceremonies or security reasons. The lawn and statues on Main Street are open to walk past at all hours, all year.

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