Montpelier, the capital of Vermont

Fourteen towns

From 1778 to 1808 Vermont’s General Assembly had no permanent home. It met in a rotating list of 14 towns, most often Windsor and Rutland, but also Bennington, Manchester, Westminster, Norwich, Newbury, Castleton, Vergennes, Middlebury, Burlington, Danville and Woodstock. In October 1781 it even met in Charlestown, a town that is now in New Hampshire.

Montpelier’s deal

In November 1805 the legislature made Montpelier its permanent seat, with two conditions: the town had to finish a capitol by September 1, 1808, and the state would compensate the town if sessions ever moved away. Montpelier delivered, and the legislature first met there on October 13, 1808. Every session since has been held in Montpelier.

The State House

Ammi B. Young designed a granite Greek Revival building, built from 1833 to 1838, but fire gutted it in January 1857. Thomas Silloway rebuilt and enlarged it, reusing the Doric portico and parts of the walls, and the new building was occupied in 1859. Its high dome is copper covered in gold leaf and is topped by a statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.

The House and Senate chambers are described as the oldest legislative chambers in the country still in use in their original condition, and the Senate still sits at the 30 black walnut desks first used in 1859. The State House is a National Historic Landmark, run as a museum by the State Curator’s Office.

Flags at the State House

By law, the Bennington Battle Flag flies under the US flag at the State House every August 15 to 17, and the Green Mountain Boys Flag flies there each January 15.

Visiting

The State House draws more than 150,000 visitors a year. See the State Curator’s Office for tours and hours.