Капитолий штата Нью-Джерси: История и архитектура

State capitol building of the U. S. state of New Jersey

The New Jersey State House is the capitol building of the U. S. state of New Jersey and is the third oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States. Located in Trenton, it was originally built in 1792 and is notable for its close proximity to the state border with Pennsylvania, which makes it the closest capitol building to a state border. The building accommodates both the New Jersey Legislature's Senate and General Assembly chambers, offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and various state government departments. The State House has experienced numerous expansions and renovations to meet the growing needs of the state since its original construction. Designed by Jonathan Doane, the original structure has seen architectural inputs from other notable architects across the centuries. The State House underwent a significant restoration and modernization project in 1987, and another renovation project that started in 2017, with a major focus on the Governor's Office and related Executive Branch agencies. The New Jersey State House deviates from the architectural trend of most U. S. capitol buildings, which are reminisicent of the U. S. Capitol, and is integrated into an urban setting instead of a park like campus. It offers daily tours to the public and provides an educational platform for middle and high school students.

After the Legislature relocated to Trenton from Perth Amboy in 1790, it purchased land for £250. Construction on the new state house, designed by Philadelphia based architect Jonathan Doane, began in 1792. The Doane building was covered in stucco, measured and housed the Senate and House chambers in opposite wings. To meet the demands of the growing state, the structure was expanded several times during the 19th century. In 1845, Philadelphia architect John Notman created a three stepped office wing on the north side of the original building. An expansion of the river side portico occurred in 1865. In 1871, architect Samuel Sloan was commissioned to design new wings to house both legislative chambers. and was scheduled to finish in 2023.

The New Jersey State House is unusual among state capitol buildings in the United States, the majority of which are reminiscent of the U. S. Capitol. The building consists of two parallel structures connected by the dome capped rotunda, resembling the letter H, with its long arm parallel to State Street. A long portico wing, added by Notman and subsequently enlarged, extends west from the rotunda toward the Delaware River. To this portico, a number of architecturally dissimilar, unusually shaped structures have been added. These structures have been the subject of subsequent renovations to blend them with 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, and is the side dominated by the various additions. Viewed from State Street, the dome is scarcely visible and there is little sense of the scale or design of the building. The Governor's office 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 chambers galleries, party conference rooms, the rotunda and Governor's Office reception room. Middle and high school teachers can receive a grant from the Eagleton Institute to cover the cost of transportation for field trips to take tours of the New Jersey State House.