Old State House

The Old State House was the seat of Massachusetts' colonial (and later state) legislature from 1713 to 1798.

History
This building housed the Massachusetts government from 1713 to 1798. Before the Revolution, that would have meant the governor, his advisors, and the elected assembly.

The assembly had rather limited power – the governor had veto power over anything they decided, and on occasion dissolved the assembly when the governor didn't vote his way.

In 1767 a gallery was installed above the meeting floor here so the general public could watch their legislature at work.

The government moved out of the building in 1798 and the old building was turned over to merchants, including a wine seller and a wig maker.