Under the Rhode Island State House Dome
The iconic building is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.
Via Getty Images/Aimintang.
The Rhode Island State House, built between 1895 and 1904 atop Smith Hill, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Perhaps best known as the seat of the General Assembly, the building also contains the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices, a State Library, and several notable rooms and items worth visiting, including the newly gilded Independent Man, who was scheduled to head back atop the dome this fall. You can also find paintings of every Rhode Island governor, a replica of the Liberty Bell, Gilbert Stuart’s famous portrait of George Washington, the state’s official September 11th Memorial and the famed dome decorated with murals depicting the state’s early history.
Through December, you can see “120 Years of the Rhode Island State House,” an exhibit that showcases Snowtown, a nineteenth century racially diverse community that was displaced to make way for the State House; how the marble structure was built; and the ways people have come together under its dome.
The building is open to the public Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Visitors can take a self-guided tour or join a guided tour Mon.–Fri. at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.ri.gov for more information or to download a self-guided tour.
