Today was capitol visiting day. We visited two state capitols and ended the day at Chris and Lisa’s house. Our first stop was just a short hop over the border from Seekonk Massachusetts to see the Rhode Island Capitol.
The Rhode Island Capitol
This was our first visit to a capitol building since the onset of COVID. The visit was different because of safety precautions. We were allowed into the building, but most of it was closed to visitors. That limited our picture taking to main halls and outside. Here is a gallery of photos from the rotunda portion of the building.
The entry into the building is massive. It is three very tall stories high. As one of the thirteen original colonies Rhode Island began earlier than the United States. As you can see in the picture of the state seal, Rhode Island began in 1636. It was established to protect religious freedom from government interference. The painting in the dome depicts the meeting of the early English settlers with the people already living in the area. The painting is both huge and detailed.
In addition to the rotunda, we got to enter the public gallery area of the Rhode Island House chamber. The Senate chamber was closed.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives Chamber
Because we were limited to touring by ourselves, perhaps the most interesting area we visited was the museum dedicated to the history of religious freedom in Rhode Island. It detailed all the documents, discussions, debates, and details of the way Rhode Island has worked to protect freedom of religion from any interference by the government.
The Colonial Charter Museum
The museum is not large, but is filled with copies of documents from colonial days to the present. Religious freedom was so important that the early leaders of Rhode Island made multiple trips back to England to get the King’s signature on a charter so that they could maintain the idea of this freedom. The museum also outlines some of the challenges that have arisen over time.
Here are pictures from the front and back of the capitol. Notice the symmetry of the building.
The evidence of the commitment to religious freedom is even engraved into their Capitol Building.
They really mean it
Our visit to the Rhode Island Capitol was shorter than expected because of the COVID restrictions. After we finished our self guided tour, we headed north to Concord, New Hampshire via Boston Massachusetts.
Our trip to Concord was mostly uneventful. The drive through Boston was not too difficult, but the traffic did make it more intense than expected. We did not have any problems, we just needed to stay focused for the many quick lane changes and sharp turns. The Big Dig did help with Boston traffic, but we are glad we only visit infrequently.
We finally finished our meals from Zoe’s at lunch time in the parking lot of the New Hampshire Welcome Center. When we got to the Capitol in Concord, we got a surprise!
Closed to the public!
The state government is not closed, but they are meeting without visitors. As we stood before the locked front door, another person came to the door. He was delivering a package. He called the phone number to get someone to come to the door. The person that answered the door was the Director of Capitol Tours. We were able to clarify that we could tour outside, but not inside. She graciously agreed to stamp our Capitol Tour Log Book for New Hampshire.
The archway entrance to the capitol
Yes. We were there, but only outside.
Here is all the information we got.
The front view with the gardens.
Our tour of the New Hampshire Capitol lasted a little longer than the time it took you to read this page. We found a place across the street that explains about the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. They memorialize the primary results in stone to show the importance of the New Hampshire primary.
2016 Primary Stones
We were now way ahead of schedule. Both Chris and Lisa had to work on this day, so we tried to find something to fill the time. We looked up the best ice cream place in Concord. Turned out it was right across the street. We had plenty of time on the prepaid parking meter, so we decided to stop there for ice cream. Oops, they are closed on Monday’s.
We decided to drive up to Grantham and wait there until the workday was done. So that’s what we did, sort of. We had been parked in the driveway for about 30 minutes when Lisa discovered that we were there. She usually works from home. When she took a break, she decided to find out why there was a car in her driveway. Surprise, we were early.
Early afternoon arrival
Later that evening we went on a short walk around the golf course portion of the very large community where they live.
Chris and Steve, can you tell we are brothers?
Lisa, Steve & Chris (Guess who’s behind the camera)
This was part of the view from Chris and Lisa’s house. Their house is located across the street from the seventeenth green and the eighteenth tee. It was great to spend this evening with Chris and Lisa. We will be here for a couple of days.