House of Representatives

In this room, shaped like a theatre, the men and women who represent the citizens of Massachusetts meet and talk and vote, and make important decisions about state government.

At the front of the room are two large boards, part of an electronic roll call system, which list the names of the representatives. When a vote is taken, lights on the boards show how each representative voted.

Hanging over the visitor’s gallery is the famous “Sacred Cod.” It is a symbol of Massachusetts’ earliest business — fishing.