The New Jersey State House

    I got off the exit and approached the red light. Trenton greeted me with its fire department headquarters and the giant words TRENTON FIRE HEADQUARTERS sprawled across its front face.  As I drove down the road I began thinking I should have tested my car on some back woods paths before leaving home: the road was potholed worse than an erupted mine field; I felt the old Taurus cringing as I progressed.

  I arrived at the New Jersey State House just before three and I was rather impressed by the structure in front of me.  I’m not quite sure what it was I had expected, but the double stacked colonnade leading my gaze to the golden dome  atop the capitol building gladdened me that the State Museum being closed had sent me here. 

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    The building was constructed in 1792 by Jonathan Doane and has since undergone many additions and renovations.  Although some of the original building, which houses New Jersey’s executive and legislative branches (the judiciary moved down the road), still exists.

    I walked up the front stairs and found that of all the doors adorning the facade, only the one to the extreme left said enter.  I walked in and followed the rope barrier until a multitude of signs prohibited my further advance.  My smile soon returned though, as I found the door to my immediate left to be open.  I entered, and was then accosted by a security guard who thoroughly strip searched me (after all, these are dire times).  I’m just kidding; all I had to do was go through a metal detector before being given a visitor’s pass by a very nice guard who directed me to a lobby I found wholly empty.

    After a few minutes of waiting by myself, (I’m pretty sure I was the only person there besides the guards and the guide) the tour guide walked up and introduced himself.

    The lobby gave way into the 142ft, gold flaked cupola .  The cupola had balconies for the next two stories from which one can peer into the cavern adorned with portraits of New Jersey Governors.  In the middle of the floor stands an original model casting of the statue in the Lincoln Memorial.  We walked around this and entered an archway with a golden eagle hanging over our heads.  The archway we were standing in was the original front door of the building; additions did not only build upwards but rather extended the building in all directions.

    Next I passed Governor Christie’s dark and closed office.  I could still see the podium that he speaks from during his press conferences.  On some days the guide will be able to bring you inside, but not today.

   The guide is quite knowledgeable and begins pointing out, from the number of gold finches to the presence of a ladybug, all of the symbolism packed into a small statue of a tree, called the Glory of New Jersey Tree.

    After passing the Governor’s office and the Glory of New Jersey Tree we leave the executive wing and enter the wing that houses the New Jersey State Legislature.  This part of the building is split in halves; on the left is the General Assembly and to our right the State Senate.

    We first enter the General Assembly chamber, standing in the top section where the public seats are.  Anyone from the public is allowed to sit in on the meetings here.  Seating is quite limited however, so it is a first come first serve audience.  The seats and desks below, arranged in a semi-cirlce facing the podium, are all a golden oak; the carpet a deep blue, with swirls of leaves that the guide again informs me are symbolic.  Hanging in the center of the chamber is a huge, golden chandelier still lit with models of Thomas Edison’s first incandescent lightbulbs.  TV cameras are positioned, standing in the public section, aimed down at the Speaker’s Chair, which is in the front center of the room, flanked on either side by portraits of Lincoln and Washington.

    Next we move into the smaller Senate Chamber, this one differently styled: velvet carpeting and mahogany desks and chairs, the Speaker’s podium made of granite.  Above us, surrounding the chamber high above our heads where the walls meet the ceiling, are a number of murals all symbolic to New Jersey.  All but one of these murals features Lady Liberty or her sister Prosperity; each of them angelic in their framing.

    My guide then concludes the tour by taking me to the room where the Senate meets to discuss present issues before entering the chamber to vote.  The room contains a long mahogany table, and chairs enough to sit the entire Senate. 

    The State House was originally built overlooking the Delaware, so after the tour I decided I would walk around back to check it out.  You can see the Delaware… on the other side of Route 29.

    All in all it was a very informative, hour long tour; I wish it had gone longer but one person can only lengthen it with questions for so long.  The guide had lots of interesting facts and background information which he used to bring life into the State House as we walked its empty hallways.  I recommend, to all those interested in politics, both state and/or federal, to visit one the oldest buildings in continuous use in America, the New Jersey State House.

    The New Jersey State House sees about 30,000 visitors a year, most of them school children on fieldtrips and people refered to as “capitol collectors”: those who travel the country visiting all the different state capitol buildings–apparently this one is a favorite.

    The State House is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 3:00 and the third Saturday of each month from 12:00 to 3:00.  Tours begin at the top of each hour so plan your arrival in accordance.  And be sure to bring a photo I.D. as they won’t let you in without one.  For more information visit http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/visitingstatehouse.asp.