The New Jersey State House, built in 1792, is home to New Jersey's Legislative and Executive branche A bell-tower was situated in the center of the roof.
The New Jersey State House was originally built in 1792 by Jonathan Doane. The site was approximately 3.75 acres and cost 250 English pounds, which is about $400 today. The building was two and one-half stories high and consisted of seven bays radiating off a center hall. The legislative chambers were located on the first floor– Senate (then the Legislative Council) in the west and General Assembl
y in the east. The Governor’s and judicial offices occupied the second floor. State government grew steadily for many decades while the State House remained unaltered. Then, in 1845, a major addition was constructed under the direction of John Notman, a well-known Philadelphia architect. He created a one, two and three-story stepped office wing on the north side of the original building, facing what is now State Street. The new entrance had a two-story porch and six fluted Doric columns. A grand rotunda with a stairhall connected the old and new wings. This area was capped by a spherical dome and cupola. A two-story portico with pairs of Corinthian columns and a classical pediment was added to the river-side facade. In 1865, the river-side portico was extended 68 feet. Another major building campaign began in 1871, when Samuel Sloan, also a Philadelphia architect, was commissioned to modify the northern State Street wing and design new wings for both legislative houses. These two wings flanked the 1865 southern extension. While little detail is known for certain about the final structure, it is believed that the new wings both contained a two-and-one-half-story chamber surrounded by a gallery, offices and caucus rooms. The old Senate chamber was modified to accommodate the Governor’s office, while additional offices were created
in the former Assembly chamber. Early in the morning of March 21, 1885, a fire broke out and raced through the empty building, totally destroying the State Street wing. Lewis Broome of Jersey City was selected to plan the reconstruction. He designed the building in a simplified Second Empire style with three stories and limestone facing. He also added a new rotunda and dome that were more proportional to the scale of the building. Twenty years after Sloan’s new Assembly wing was erected, it was replaced by a larger wing of late Victorian style. James Moylan, an Assemblyman, was the architect. Due to space limitations, Moylan decided to rotate the wing so that it paralleled the building’s center wing. Accompanying this work was an addition to the west end of the original 1792 structure, which created private offices for the Governor and judges. A third floor was also added to the south end of the center wing. In 1900, the wing was extended 95 feet, ending at the edge of a water power canal, known as the Sanhican Creek. The addition was designed by the architectural firm of Karr, Poole and Lum. George Poole, one of the firm’s principals, was also an Assemblyman. In 1903, under the direction of Merchantville architect Arnold Moses, the Senate wing was reconstructed in American Renaissance style to mirror the Assembly quarters. The wing was enlarged using classical forms and rich materials, particularly in the decorative interior and exterior treatments. The original 1792 east wing was replaced with a four-story office section in 1906. The front area was extended on the east side in 1911. Similar work was done on the front west side the next year. In the decades following, no major structural changes occurred, aside from the modernization of the main corridor in the late 1950’s. The effort of all these years was nearly lost in the 1960’s when a master plan called for the demolition of almost the entire building. Luckily, the plan was never executed. With today’s new respect for historic buildings, the focus has turned to preserving and restoring the structure. This is evidenced by the on-going efforts to restore the building to the grandeur of its former years. A long renovation project began in 1987, which addressed structural, mechanical and electrical deficiencies in the State House, restored the legislative portion of the building and added legislative office space, known as the South Addition. Next, the State House Annex was renovated and a pedestrian tunnel and multi-level parking garage constructed. A public-private partnership allowed for the golden dome and interior rotunda space to be refurbished. A Welcome Center, cafeteria and landscaped "Plaza" are the most recent improvements. Today, the New Jersey State House is a building all residents can be proud of. Visitors are encouraged to tour the building and learn more about its historical past. As home of our state democratic process, it will continue to serve the citizens of New Jersey as they come to participate in the shaping of public policy.
Operating as usual
For 21 years, David N. April has served the New Jersey Legislature as the OLS Tour Program Coordinator. Today, we bid him a very happy retirement & thank him not only for his service but for being the best supervisor his staff, could have asked for.
in 1883 Roselle, NJ made history when State Inventor, Thomas Edison employed the first overhead electrical wiring system in the Union County community. The experiment proved that electricity could be installed through shared & centralized generators.
in 1878, Thomas Edison patented the speaking telegraph (telephone) in Italy. While Alexander Bell invented the telephone first, it was Edison's carbon-button transmitter that made his patent unique. Carbon transmitters are still used in telephones today.
The New Jersey State House will be closed for tours on Friday, December 23rd due to inclement weather. We will reopen for tours on Tuesday, December 27th.
It's bigger on the inside.
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Great Scott! It's .
Governor Livingston, I presume.
Happy 299th Birthday to New Jersey's first Governor, William Livingston. 🎉
Governor Livingston, I presume.
Happy 299th Birthday to New Jersey's first Governor, William Livingston. 🎉
in 1788 William Paterson and Dr. Jonathan Elmer were elected by the New Jersey General Assembly and Legislative Council to serve as the first U.S. Senators from New Jersey.
The Turk of the General Assembly wishes you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
Tonight, the State House complex shines bright in remembrance of Kristallnacht, "The Night of Broken Glass". On November 9-10, 1938 N**i Gestapo agents initiated a wave of destruction aimed at Jews, Jewish synagogues, homes, and shops in almost every town and city in Germany. That night 119 synagogues burned, 7,500 Jewish shops and homes were destroyed or looted, and 72 people were killed or injured. Kristallnacht marked the initial round-up of 20,000 Jews into concentration camps, a dark precursor to the genocide of six million Jews in the years that followed.
We will light up the night so that we will never forget. For more information visit: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht
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The New Jersey State House is closed in observance of Election Day. The best way to comfort your disappointment over today's closing is to vote. It makes everyone happy!
Did you know that the Garden State produces more than 100 different types of fruits and vegetables, and is home to over 50 vineyards? New Jersey is a top ten producer of blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, apples, spinach, squash, and asparagus. No wonder Lady Prosperity's cornucopia is overflowing! 🍅 🍑 🍎 🥒
Image 1: Produce carvings details in the State House Complex's Committee Room 12.
Image 2: Wall carving depicting the New Jersey State Seal in the State House Complex's Committee Room 12.
THEY'RE HERE!
Happy Halloween from the New Jersey State House Tour Office!
You look like you'd make a great volunteer tour guide!🧐 Honest! You should visit https://bit.ly/NJSHVolunteer to learn about volunteer opportunities at the New Jersey State House. Our next training session starts October 21st! Call Carol Rogers at 609-847-3150 or email [email protected] for details.
State House Tour Office volunteers are a diverse group of professionals, retired educators, business people, students and homemakers who share a love of history, an interest in government, and a desire to teach others about the State of New Jersey.
On September 11, 2001, nearly 700 New Jerseyans lost their lives. Today we join our state and country by remembering the lives lost too soon and honoring every American who was impacted by that horrible day.
We'll say it- we officially propose that the NJ State Seal be altered to include a unicorn instead of a horse.
Visit today's Story and discover the accomplishments of New Jersey' first Governor, William Livingston, who was sworn into office 246 years ago today.
Falling plaster. It happens to the best of chambers from time to time.
This little ol' place made the list!
No matter what brings you to the Garden State, you'll find ample tours to help you learn about your surroundings. From a descent into a former mine to
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She's done her research, she has her book ready to be stamped, and she's on capitol number 37. She's our favorite type of visitor because she's the great and mighty Capitol Collector!
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Happy Independence Day!
We will be closed for tours of the State House today. To make a tour reservation for later this week please call 609-847-3150.
Image by Rich Hundley
in 1664, James, the Duke of York, presented the release for the land between the Hudson & Delaware to Sir George Carteret & Lord Berkeley of Stratton. The grant proclaimed “said Tract of Land is hereafter to be called by the name or names of New Cesarea or .”
To find out more about this historic document visit: https://www.njlandrecords.org/who-were-the-east-and-west-jersey-proprietors/
The storied history of Juneteenth begins with the landing of Major General Gordon Granger at Galveston, Texas, on
June 19, 1865, to deliver tidings of the Civil War’s end and to read aloud General Order No. 3, which stated that all enslaved
people were free, a noted two and a half years after the adoption of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Today, on the 155th Anniversary of Juneteenth we hope to play a role in ensuring the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten. For more information about Juneteenth and the legal history of slavery in New Jersey visit:
https://slavery.princeton.edu/stories/legislating-slavery-in-new-jersey
NJ Law P.L.2020, C.76 states that the third Friday in June is recognized as Juneteenth. OLS offices will close tomorrow, Friday, June 17th in observance and celebration of the final release of enslaved people on June 19, 1865. We will reopen on Monday, June 20th.
It's Flag Day! As we celebrate the creation of the stars & stripes, we took time this afternoon to visit the Civil War flag collection at . On March 29, 1871 the State Senate and General Assembly authorized the Quartermaster General to gather all of New Jersey's Civil War flags so that they could join the Civil War flags that had already been returned to the State and displayed on the State House. Three years after the State House fire of 1885 nearly destroyed the collection, the legislature called for the building of a fireproof room in the State House to store the flag collection. The collection was on display at the State House until the mid-1980s until it was transferred officially to the State Museum for care.
Today we remember and memorialize the sacrifice, bravery, and courage of America's fallen soldiers.
Read more about the history and traditions of Memorial Day:
https://t.co/uPxxkYR6sA
https://t.co/odG54vab3r
Thank you for bringing a K-9 team for at the New Jersey State House!
We are so thankful to for joining the children of the Executive and Legislative branches during today's .
a fire destroyed the Quartermaster's office, the Chancery Clerk's, and the as the State House caught fire in the early morning of March 21, 1885. Freezing temperatures, frozen hydrants, and slick sidewalks hampered the fire fight. The original 1792 portion of the State House was left unharmed. Water damage and the weight of the ice left behind by the fire fight damaged the existing dome and Rotunda beyond repair. A new north facade and dome were completed in 1889, and are currently undergoing a $300 million restoration project.
🚨The Smackdown Starts now! 🚨
Visit our Insta Story and cast your vote!
It's your civic duty!
Did you know that coloring has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain? Generate mindfulness and quietness this week with our coloring books. Download your favorite pages at
New Jersey State House Coloring Book 2022 Posted on February 7, 2022February 6, 2022 By ColorOurCollectionsAdmin New Jersey State House Coloring Book 2022 About the New Jersey State House: The New Jersey State House, constructed in 1792, is the state’s most important public building and one of th...
Happy Birthday to New Jersey's State Inventor, Thomas Alva Edison! Edison's birthday inspired President Ronald Reagan to declare February 11th National Inventors' Day in 1983.
Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931), in his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory, ca. 1911.
Due to the threat of winter weather across the Garden State tomorrow morning, Thursday, January 20th, guided tours of the State House will only be offered at 1:00 & 2:00 PM. To make a reservation call 609-847-3150. 🥶❄️☃️
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Even the smallest act of service or kindness can make a difference, and we hope today you will find a way to help your community in remembrance of Dr. King.
The New Jersey State House will be closed for tours.
The 73' tall Twin Lights of Navesink have witnessed many historical events, including the first public reading of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1893. While the famous writing was first published in 1892, it wasn't until December 28, 1945, that Congress formally gave recognition to the Pledge of Allegiance in the United States Flag Code.
The New Jersey State House will be closed for guided tours on Friday, December 24th, and Friday, December 31. To reserve a tour for an alternate date please call 609-846-3150 or visit www.njstatehousetours.org.
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#OTD in 1787 the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution, was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At that meeting five New Jerseyans served as signers including New Jersey's first governor, William Livingston. Discover the men behind the document by visiting https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/educational-resources/founding-fathers/
As New Jersey schools head back to class this week, we wish students, teachers, and administrators a happy and healthy school year! Remember to wash your hands, Jersey-style, it's the best way to do it! 😎 #civics #BacktoSchool2020
Healthcare workers- you're the BOSS! Your dedication and selflessness is appreciated now more than ever. This one's for you....
Keepin' it #covid19 clean, NJ State House style. 🚿🧼👏 SOUND ON! #handwashchallenge
THIS JUST IN: Yesterday, in a shocking #MarchMustacheMadness defeat, the Senate President's beard won over the bushiest pair of mutton chops the General Assembly had to offer. Who will win your vote today? Visit our Insta Story: https://www.instagram.com/njstatehousetours/ #njstatehousetours
Cooling sounds from The Plaza fountain on another hot day in Trenton. #njstatehousetours #visithistorictrenton #statecapitol
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