The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, is located at 82 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White which features the fourth largest structural-stone dome in the world,

A private organization, the State House Restoration Society, raises funds and advocates for the landmark building. The dome is "the fourth largest self-supported marble dome in the world".

The chamber of the Rhode Island Senate is located in the east wing of the building, and the chamber of the Rhode Island House of Representatives is located in the west wing. Other notable rooms include the rotunda (beneath the dome), the State Library (north end), and the State Room (south end). The State Room is an entrance area for the office of the governor and contains a full-scale portrait of George Washington by Rhode Island native Gilbert Stuart. This room is also where the governor has press conferences and bill signings at the State House.

The State House was one of the first public buildings to use electricity. It is currently lit by 109 floodlights and two searchlights at night. and installed in 1899. The statue weighs more than , is tall, and stands above the ground.

Materials

The statue is cast in bronze, and was originally covered in gold leaf.

Events and exhibits

thumb|Top part of the Rhode Island Charter in the State House

Royal Charter

The original Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663 is on permanent display in a small museum at the State House. The exhibit was redesigned and rededicated in January 2016.

Gettysburg Gun

thumb|right|The Gettysburg Gun

A 12-pound bronze Civil War–era Napoleon cannon known as The Gettysburg Gun stands just inside the first floor entrance.

Christmas at the State House

thumb|2024 tree

It is an annual State House tradition to feature a Christmas tree and community and cultural holiday displays each December. A Fraser fir or balsam fir is erected in the rotunda and decorated. The tree, donated by a local family or tree farm, is typically between 17 and 25 feet tall. Local media will sometimes feature stories about problems with Rhode Island's state tree, occasionally even meriting front page treatment:

  • In 2005, the tree was removed from the rotunda after a treatment with flame retardant caused the needles to fall out.
  • In 2016, a 14-foot Fraser fir was deemed too small for the rotunda. The New York Post called it "the saddest state capital Christmas tree."
  • The 2018 tree was an 18-foot tall Douglas fir donated by a South Kingstown tree farm.
  • After protests disrupted the official tree lighting ceremonies in 2021 and 2022, Governor Dan McKee decided to hold the 2023, 2024, and 2025 celebrations privately, inviting only foster children and their families from the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Since 2014, holiday displays from "any Rhode Island area-based religious or secular group" have been featured on the first and second floors. Participating groups have included local religious, ethnic, and secular organizations.