New Jersey State House - Design

Design

The New Jersey State House is unusual among state capitol buildings in the United States, the majority of which are reminiscent of the United States Capitol Building. The building is shaped like a sideways H, with a golden dome over the cross-bar of the H and with a long wing extending westward towards the Delaware River. To the rear of the building, a number of architecturally dissimilar, unusually-shaped additions have been added, which were later subject to attempts at renovation in order to match the style of the original wing. The State House is set not on a park-like campus, as are many state houses, rather it is integrated into an urban setting along historic State Street and is surrounded by other legislative buildings. The most scenic view of the building is from the west, near the Delaware River, which is the side dominated by the various additions. Viewed from the front on State Street, the dome is scarcely visible and there is little sense of the scale or design of the building. The current Office of the Governor section in the complex occupies the remaining portion of the original 1792 State House.

Tours are offered daily Monday through Saturday, except state holidays. The tours typically include the Senate and Assembly chamber galleries, party conference rooms, the rotunda and Governor's Office reception room.