State Capitol – Part of a series of fine art photographs from around the New England state of New Hampshire from the portfolios of photographer Edward M. Fielding – https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/art/new+hampshire
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HOUSE
A visit to Concord New Hampshire is not complete without a visit to the impressive New Hampshire State House building and grounds where in 1816 the state settled on the location.
The contest was between Concord, Hopkinton, and Salisbury, the last named town having offered seven thousand dollars for the honor. In the end Concord won, and by 1816 final action had been taken to build there.
Considerable expense was saved the town of Concord by the decision to build the Capitol of granite from what are now the Swenson quarries at the north end of the town, and to have the cutting and shaping and facing of the stones done by the inmates of the prison.
A feature of the new and imposing building thus provided was its huge gold-painted wooden eagle, which was raised to the top of the dome in 1818. Appropriate ceremonies presided over by Governor Plumer were marked by a series of toasts, one of which was, “The American Eagle. May the shadow of his wings protect every acre of our united continent and the lightning of his eye flash terror and defeat through the ranks of our enemies.”
The new building’s actual cost was only approximately $82,000, but it provided adequate quarters of the legislature and committees, the Governor and Council, the Secretary of State, the Treasurer, and the library. Stuart J. Park, the builder, goes down in history as having done an admirable job, and he has a Concord street to the north of the building, Park Street, named in his honor. The first session of the legislature to be held in the new building was in 1819.
The New Hampshire State House, located in Concord at 107 North Main Street, is the state capitol building of New Hampshire. The capitol houses the New Hampshire General Court, Governor and Executive Council. The building was constructed on a block framed by Park Street (named in honor of the architect, Stuart James Park) to the north, Main Street to the east, Capitol Street to the south, and North State Street to the west.
Prints of this black and white photograph of the New Hampshire State Capital Building are available as prints, framed museum quality artwork, canvas prints and more at – https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/featured/state-capital-building-concord-new-hampshire-2015-edward-fielding.html
The current statehouse was designed in 1814, and paid for by the City of Concord. The building was built in 1816–1819 by architect Stuart Park.
The building was built in the Greek Revival style with smooth granite blocks. The entrance is covered by a small projecting portico supported by Doric columns. The balcony above is lined with a balustrade separated by Corinthian columns supporting a pediment. Another balustrade lines the edge of the flat roof.