4.    Central Stairwell

Then…
When the House was completed in 1842, the Central Stairwell consisted of straight flights with steep risers, and included landings midway between the first and second floors. It is possible that the stairs resembled those found in the West Wing. Large windows on the landings provided interior lighting for the stairwell, which at that time had no skylight. This lighting was later blocked when permanent, two-story masonry additions were built between the wings and the Main Building in 1885. At that time the old staircases were replaced by elegant, curving stairs in the Victorian architectural style. The skylight and the opening in the floor of the second floor landing were also added. The original landing windows weren't removed but simply covered up by the rounded walls built to accommodate the new staircases. During the 1996 restoration, the original faux wood grain finish was found on these windows, providing a model of the original faux graining in the State House and thus aiding in the restoration of the 1836 House of Representatives.

Now…
The elegant, curving stairs are one of the Old State House Museum’s most breathtaking features. Visitors love that they can still traverse these artifacts even though they can be a little intimidating on the way down. The staircase from the second to the third floor is off limits to visitors for safety reasons.