Boston: May 20, 2008

We arrived at the Boston airport at 11:40 am, rented a car (we got a PT Cruiser! how fun!), and were off to the capitol right away. Our mapquest directions got us into the city well enough, and we spotted the dome, found parking for about $25/hour, and jumped out to head to the first state house on the tour. The capitol was very busy and loud with lobbyists (guess) and other senators, etc. It is, according to their pamphlets, the oldest capitol still in use (completed in 1798). It does appear very old, and is located in a very old, quaint neighborhood.
Here's John outside the capitol, which was right in the middle of the Boston city center, blocks from the Boston Gardens. Of course, the Boston Celtics have been doing well, and even the state house expressed their Celtic pride with a huge flag accross the front of the building.




Inside the building was pretty stately as expected, with paintings of the governors lining and walls, and multiple busts of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. However, to my dismay, John Adams only had one bust, no paintings (unless I missed it) besides one in the Senate chamber along with other presidents on the wall in creation of the Declaration. In a room that seemed to be honoring great presidents, there were large sculptures of Washington and Lincoln, and then some pieces cardboard with a copied picture of John Adams with some words about the second president (who, of course, was from Boston, unlike Washington and Lincoln). John Quincy Adams was not shown anywhere, though his name was listed on the wall on the Senate Chambers. This was disappointing to me as a grand-daughter of the great pres! But I guess I have heard that John Adams was unpopular.


Another interesting tidbit is that the Senate chambers has a round table, unlike the capitols we have seen previously. There's also a room that used to be on the outside that is now inside, displaying flags of each of Massachusettes cities.