Not long after completion of the State House in 1842, an internal load-bearing wall was mistakenly removed in an attempt to enlarge a room in the West Wing. The result was a sagging roof and a dangerous bulge outward by the wing's western wall. The interior wall was quickly restored and efforts were made to brace the exterior wall, but structural problems persisted, compromising the stability of the wing's staircase. For decades access to the offices on the second floor was by means of a steep, single-flight external staircase.
The present staircase was constructed in 1885 and is probably configured as was half of the original Central Staircase. The artifacts of the United Daughters of 1812 have been displayed here since the 1980s.
Visit the exhibit page for the Daughters of 1812
Next: Spanish-American War Room »
|
