Rhode Island State House: Difference between revisions
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The [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]] Chamber is located in the west wing of the building while the [[Rhode Island Senate]] Chamber is located in the east wing. Other notable rooms in the State House include the Rotunda (beneath the dome), the State Library (north end), and the State Room (south end). The State Room serves as the entrance to the offices of the Governor and contains a full-scale portrait of [[George Washington]] by Rhode Island native [[Gilbert Charles Stuart|Gilbert Stewart]]. This room is also where the Governor holds press conferences and bill signings at the State House. |
The [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]] Chamber is located in the west wing of the building while the [[Rhode Island Senate]] Chamber is located in the east wing. Other notable rooms in the State House include the Rotunda (beneath the dome), the State Library (north end), and the State Room (south end). The State Room serves as the entrance to the offices of the Governor and contains a full-scale portrait of [[George Washington]] by Rhode Island native [[Gilbert Charles Stuart|Gilbert Stewart]]. This room is also where the Governor holds press conferences and bill signings at the State House. |
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One of the first public buildings to |
One of the first public buildings to use [[electricity]], the Rhode Island State House is lit by 109 floodlights and two searchlights at night. The State House is also one of the first public buildings in the [[United States]] to use [[window|skylights]], the major ones being in the House of Representatives Chamber, the Senate Chamber, and the State Library. |
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The building can be seen from [[Interstate 95|I-95]], though the [[Providence Place|Providence Place Mall]] has blocked much of the view from the northbound lanes. |
The building can be seen from [[Interstate 95|I-95]], though the [[Providence Place|Providence Place Mall]] has blocked much of the view from the northbound lanes. |
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Revision as of 19:34, 4 June 2005
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The Rhode Island State House, located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, is the seat of government of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The ornate neoclassical building, designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White, houses the Rhode Island General Assembly and the offices of the Governor as well as the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and General Treasurer.
History
The current State House is Rhode Island's seventh state house and the second in Providence. It was designed and constructed from 1895 to 1904. The building underwent a major renovation in the late 1990s.
The building served as the United States Capitol exterior in the movie Amistad.
Description
The Rhode Island State House is made up of 327,000 cubic feet (9200 m³) of white Georgia marble, 15 million bricks, and 1,309 tons (1187 t) of iron floor beams.
The dome of the State House is the fourth largest self-supporting dome in the world after St. Peter's Basilica, the Minnesota State Capitol, and the Taj Mahal. On top of the dome is a gold-covered bronze statue of Independent Man, originally named "Hope." The statue, weighing more than 500 pounds (230 kg), is 11 feet tall (3.3 m) and stands 278 feet (84.7 m) above the ground. Independent Man represents freedom and independence and alludes to the independent spirit which led Roger Williams to settle and establish Providence and later Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives Chamber is located in the west wing of the building while the Rhode Island Senate Chamber is located in the east wing. Other notable rooms in the State House include the Rotunda (beneath the dome), the State Library (north end), and the State Room (south end). The State Room serves as the entrance to the offices of the Governor and contains a full-scale portrait of George Washington by Rhode Island native Gilbert Stewart. This room is also where the Governor holds press conferences and bill signings at the State House.
One of the first public buildings to use electricity, the Rhode Island State House is lit by 109 floodlights and two searchlights at night. The State House is also one of the first public buildings in the United States to use skylights, the major ones being in the House of Representatives Chamber, the Senate Chamber, and the State Library.
The building can be seen from I-95, though the Providence Place Mall has blocked much of the view from the northbound lanes.
References
- Cupolas of Capitalism - State Capitol Building Histories (P-S). Cupola.com (1998-2005). May 17, 2005.
- Rhode Island Facts and Figures. The State of Rhode Island General Assembly. May 17, 2005.
- Canevari, Casey et al. Civics at the State House: Self-Guided Tour. Johnson & Wales University, Office of the Secretary of State Civics and Public Information Division (March 2003). May 17, 2005.