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State House bird's eye view

The Vermont State House

This gem of a capitol is as open and accessible as one would expect in a state of small towns and villages.

Senate Chamber top view

Senate Chamber

The Senate Chamber has elliptical curves and replicated carpet and drapes from the mid-19th century.

Representatives Hall top view

Representatives Hall

Representatives Hall is the largest chamber in the State House—restored to its late-1850s splendor.

Stain glass of Vermont State logo

Architectural details

Two stained glass skylights help to illuminate the Cedar Creek Room—with one that features the state coat of arms.

Photo of sculpture close up.

Historic furnishings

A Renaissance cherub adorns a drapery cornice in the Senate Chamber.

Close up shot of Abraham Lincoln memorial

Lincoln

"Lincoln" by Brattleboro-born sculptor Larkin Goldsmith Mead, dominates the main lobby of the State House.

Painting by James Franklin displaying the red roof and dome of Vermont capitol during the 19th century.

Historic works of art

"View of Montpelier" by James Franklin Gilman (1885) shows the red roof and dome of the 19th century.

Welcome to the Vermont State House!

The State House is currently open to the public Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.  If you need assistance, contact the Sergeant at Arms’ office at 802-828-2228 or by email using the link below.  In case of an emergency, call Capitol Police at 802-828-2273; please let it ring until you receive an answer. 

                                                sgtatarms@leg.state.vt.us

 

The Vermont State House is one of the oldest and best preserved of our nation's state capitols. After nearly 160 years it remains an icon in Montpelier, the smallest capital city in America. Its House and Senate chambers are the oldest active legislative halls in the United States that have preserved their original interiors.

This architectural gem is also home to some of the state’s most important art. As you tour this remarkable piece of living history, you will develop a sense of what makes this building, and the state for which it was built, unique. Highlights include the Governor’s Office, the Cedar Creek Reception Room, the Hall of Inscriptions, and the legislative chambers.

We hope your visit to the State House will allow you to fully appreciate this amazing site. Below are the offices and organizations who work together to make sure your experience of this capitol is all that it should be.&

The Sergeant-at-Arms Office is located just off the Main Lobby of the building, and they are always available to answer your questions, sign out free audio tour wands, and to direct you to your next destination. They oversee doorkeepers, pages, the Capitol Police, custodians— and also provide frontline visitor services within the State House.

The Vermont State Curator’s Office is charged with interpreting the State House to the visiting public—in addition to duties caring for the historic fabric of the building, as well as its significant furnishings and works of art. Tours are arranged by the State House Tours Coordinator, with over 100 volunteer tour guides and gift shop attendants deployed to meet the needs of visitors. The State Curators also develop and mount special exhibitions and publications.

The Friends of the Vermont State House is the private nonprofit organization that has, since 1981, assisted the State Curator with restoration, conservation and interpretation of the State House and its collections. The Friends continue to provide and sustain our volunteers, and present public programming and publications that enhance the visitor experience of our capitol. You can help further their goals by generously contributing here. If you are interested involunteering as a tour guide or gift shop attendant, please contact Marina Michelova at 802-461-9923 or email.

Intimate Grandeur bookcovverINTIMATE GRANDEUR: Vermont’s State House, was published by the Friends of the Vermont State House in 2015 as a 120-page celebration of the state’s most significant historic building. Written by historian Nancy Price Graff with Vermont State Curator David Schutz, it is available in softcover ($24.95) or hardcover($39.95) in our gift shop or by ordering through the Friends' website by clicking here.