The Old State House
4.5(132)google
4.4(9)yelp
Historic BuildingHistoryCity LandmarkEducationalIndoor
Overview
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 65 feet (20 meters), it was also the tallest building in Boston until 1745.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeAutumn, especially October, aligns with Dover's local heritage festivals and offers a scenic backdrop. The ideal time for an indoor tour is between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM when the afternoon sun streams through historical windows, illuminating the 18th-century courtroom and chambers in a deep amber hue.
Getting TherePositioned at 25 The Green in central Dover. Drivers can utilize metered street parking or local public lots nearby. The building is highly accessible via public transportation; DART Routes 101 and 102 drop off steps away from the iconic red-brick building with its historic white cupola.
Travel Tips
- Located on The Green in downtown Dover's active government zone, parking is heavily impacted by state employees on weekdays. Visitors must seek green-marked public metered spots capped at 2 hours; parking in slots marked 'Reserved for State Officials' triggers immediate towing within 5 minutes without warning.
- Interior access is strictly restricted to guided tours; self-guided wandering is prohibited. Daily tour capacities are extremely limited with zero walk-up availability; you must secure a real-name reservation at least 48 hours in advance via the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs website and present a valid photo ID at security.
- As one of the oldest state houses, the interior preserves fragile 18th-century structural woodwork and original flooring. No liquids, foodstuffs, oversized backpacks, or professional camera tripods are allowed inside; touching unshielded historic moldings, manuscripts, or period furniture yields instant expulsion.
Reviews
Positive
- The interior Georgian architecture is stunning, with the dual-winding staircase and old courtroom flawlessly preserved.
- Completely free to enter, and the tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable, bringing DE's constitutional history to life.
- The interior is peaceful and tours are orderly, avoiding the loud crowds that disrupt learning at other attractions.
- Superb location in the heart of Dover's historic Green, equipped with good accessible ramps and interior elevators.
Heads up
- The interior space is relatively small, taking only 45-60 minutes to tour, so it requires pairing with nearby spots.
- It has no dedicated parking lot, forcing visitors to find metered street parking, which is painful during busy hours.
- Touching artifacts is strictly forbidden and flash photography is restricted, with staff acting a bit rigid when enforcing rules.
- Multilingual tour brochures at the entrance are often out of stock, lacking reading aids for international tourists.