Description
The Rhode Island State House is composed of 327,000 cubic feet (9,300 m3) of white Georgia marble, 15 million bricks, and 1,309 short tons (1,188 t) of iron floor beams.
The dome of the State House is the fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world, after St. Peter's Basilica, the Minnesota State Capitol, and the Taj Mahal. On top of the dome is a gold-covered bronze statue of the Independent Man, originally named "Hope." The statue, weighing more than 500 pounds (230 kg), is 11 feet (3.4 m) and stands 278 feet (85 m) above the ground. Independent Man represents freedom and independence and alludes to the independent spirit which led Roger Williams to settle and establish Providence and later Rhode Island.
The chamber of the Rhode Island Senate is located in the east wing of the building while the chamber of the Rhode Island House of Representatives is located in the west wing. Other notable rooms in the State House include the rotunda (beneath the dome), the State Library (north end), and the State Room (south end). The State Room is an entrance area for the office of the Governor and contains a full-scale portrait of George Washington by Rhode Island native Gilbert Stuart. This room is also where the Governor has press conferences and bill signings at the State House.
One of the first public buildings to use electricity, the Rhode Island State House is lit by 109 floodlights and two searchlights at night.
Inside the State House is carved marble. Over the pillared porticoes are quotations and historical chronologies of Rhode Island. Throughout the rotunda are battle flags, statues, and guns representing the state's military past. In the center of the rotunda, under the marble dome, is a brass replica of the state seal.
The building can be seen from I-95, though the Providence Place Mall has blocked much of the view from the northbound lanes.
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The Rhode Island State House at sunset
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The State House in front of Providence Place Mall
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State House across the plaza in front of Veterans Memorial Auditorium
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Inside
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From front left
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Senate chamber
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The day after a 9/11 vigil, with giant flag
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"Independent Man" atop the dome of the Providence State House.
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Close-up view of the "Independent Man".
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State House lit in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2010
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