The Old State House (originally the Second Town House; also the Court House, Province House, or Old Provincial State House) is a historic building at 206 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Completed in 1713, it is the city's oldest extant public building, hosting the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of the Massachusetts provincial and state governments during the 18th century. At , it was also the tallest building in Boston until 1745. Old State House is located on Boston's Freedom Trail and is designated as a National Historic Landmark and Boston Landmark.
The building replaces the First Town House on the same site, which burned down in 1711. The Second Town House was itself rebuilt after being gutted by fire in 1747. The state legislature, the Massachusetts General Court, moved to the New State House in 1798, after which the Old State House was used by the municipal government. It was used as Boston's city hall after Isaiah Rogers refurbished the structure in 1830. After a new city hall opened in 1841, the structure was used by commercial tenants for four decades. George A. Clough renovated the Old State House in 1881–1882, following threats of demolition, and the Bostonian Society took over much of the building. The Old State House has functioned as a history museum since then, undergoing additional renovations in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The building has a brick facade and rises stories above a partially raised basement. The facade is divided vertically into bays, with entrances on three sides and a balcony facing east. It has a gable roof with decorations such as a lion and unicorn, topped by a central tower. The interior has been modified repeatedly; the modern layout dates to Clough's renovation, with design details from various eras. The basement through second stories are arranged around a spiral stair that passes through a rotunda. The basement has mechanical spaces and an entrance to the MBTA subway's State station, while the first and second stories have exhibit rooms flanking the rotunda. The building also has an attic and additional rooms in the tower. The museum hosts Boston-related exhibits and reenactments.
Site
The Old State House is located at 206 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is bounded by Washington Street to the west; State Street to the north; and the intersection of State, Devonshire, and Congress streets to the east. A pedestrian street abuts the building to the south. The site slopes down to the east, where the basement has an entrance to the State station of the MBTA subway. Nearby buildings include One Boston Place to the west, the Ames Building and 28 State Street to the north, the Second Brazer Building to the southeast, and the Merchants Exchange building to the east (across Congress Street).
left|thumb|Marker just outside the building commemorating the Boston Massacre, which occurred nearby
Just east of the building is a cobblestone memorial marker for the 1770 Boston Massacre, which took place nearby. Dating from , the marker formerly occupied a traffic island at State and Devonshire streets. The marker was moved in the early 2010s when the State station was renovated. The modern marker is surrounded by a brass ring with stars. Sequentially, they are between the Old South Meeting House and Faneuil Hall.
The site has been used by the public since 1634, when a public market was built there. Washington Street was the only link to Boston's Shawmut Peninsula before the peninsula was expanded via land reclamation. State Street, then known as King Street, ran east to Long Wharf. was built on the Old State House's site in 1658 and burned in the fire of 1711.
History
The modern Old State House, built on the site of the First Town House, is Boston's oldest extant public building. Over the years, the Old State House has been known by multiple alternate names, including the Second Town House,