September 22, 2025 Trenton New Jersey
Planning ahead is absolutely key for this State House adventure! Security here is on another level—more intense than any Capitol we’ve visited yet. No wandering on your own; you’ve got to pre-register in advance for a guided tour. When you arrive, get ready to flash your photo ID, pass through security, and pose for a sticker-worthy headshot to wear during your visit. It almost felt like visiting my granddaughter in the NICU—except with a bit more official flair.
Unlike those stately capitols perched on sprawling lawns, New Jersey’s State House is smack in the heart of downtown—hugging historic State Street and flanked by its legislative neighbors. From State Street, you’ll have to squint to spot the dome peeking out—blink and you might miss the building’s true size and style! See the first picture in this blog.
Parking was an adventure of its own. With our big truck (and that pesky hitch), we were thankful we’d left the Airstream behind—otherwise, parking would’ve been impossible. We lucked out with a parallel spot by a busted meter, right next to a police car with flashing lights. We asked the officer what to do; he just smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it.” We returned after our tour to find no ticket and our truck exactly where we left it. Small victories!
After sticker duty, we were corralled into the courtyard—security watching us through giant windows—until our tour guide came to collect us. Exploring freely isn’t allowed; when the tour ended, we had to exit right away (though our guide kindly let us stop off at the restroom first). The strict rules? Our guide said it’s all because of 9/11, New Jersey lost more people in the attacks than any other state except New York, so security has stayed extra tight ever since.
In 1996, the New Jersey State House began renovations of its golden dome. That project wasn’t completed until 1999, but was no simple job. The dome is covered with 48,000 pieces of gold leaf.
Each piece of gold leaf cost $1.00 and was paid for with money raised by New Jersey school kids through the “Dimes for the Dome” program.
Boehm Porcelain Sculpture: “The Glory of New Jersey”
Step into the crossroads of the State House halls and you’ll spot a dazzling showstopper: a glass case holding “The Glory of New Jersey,” a porcelain masterpiece by Boehm Studio, crafted right in Trenton in 1995. This isn’t just any sculpture—it’s a vibrant northern oak (NJ state tree) loaded with 21 goldfinches (NJ state bird), each one representing a different New Jersey county. Look closer and you’ll find violets (NJ state flower) blooming at the roots, 13 honeybees symbolizing the original colonies, cranberries, horseshoe crabs, and—here’s a quirky touch—a single ladybug saluting New Jersey’s first female governor, Christine Todd Whitman. The whole thing stands three feet tall, weighs in at 75 pounds, and was brought to life by 12 artisans using 129 molds and 326 individual pieces. Now that’s Jersey pride, captured in porcelain!
Not only does this piece add a splash of local pride to the building, but it also serves as a playful centerpiece for school groups and curious guests, serving as a fun scavenger hunt. Everyone loves gathering around to learn the stories behind the symbols and snap photos for their own collections of Garden State memories, including us!
House of Representatives (General Assembly)
When we stepped into the General Assembly Chamber, it was like taking a trip back in time—right to the moment when Thomas Edison’s Electric Light Company installed a gleaming brass chandelier in 1891. Imagine how exciting that must have been: New Jersey’s Assembly filled with brand-new electric bulbs, like young teenagers at just thirteen years old. Just in case the bulbs fizzled out, the upper wall sconces could switch back to gas light, a clever gesture to remember the old days, or maybe a distrustful nod to the new electric lights. You decide!
Look up and you’ll see stained glass lunettes and a huge skylight, letting sunlight pour in across the hall. The gold-leaf details shimmer over the ornate plasterwork, giving the place a touch of grandeur. Above the Speaker’s dais, there’s a colorful wooden statue of New Jersey’s great seal—hard to miss and impossible not to admire.
Even the carpet gets in on the action, decorated with New Jersey’s state symbols: the Purple Violet, Eastern Goldfinch, Red Oak Tree, and Honey Bee. Blue is my favorite color, so I really like this even though we only saw it from the gallery. I imagine it is a fun detail for anyone walking through, like a hidden scavenger hunt for Garden State pride woven right into the floor.
House of Representatives (General Assembly)
Notable stories from our Tour Guide
Welcome to New Jersey—a state where most folks are packed up north like sardines in a subway car! Seriously, about 70-75% of New Jerseyans call the northern cities home, with hotspots like Paterson, Elizabeth, Newark, and Jersey City buzzing with energy. Central Jersey holds its own with industrial hubs (hello, Trenton!), but venture south and you’ll find sprawling farmland, earning the “Garden State” name with pride.
But let’s talk about southern Jersey, where the legend gets wild. Meet the “Jersey Devil” (or “Leeds Devil,” if you want to sound fancy)—the state’s most infamous cryptid. Picture this: a creature that’s part kangaroo, part horse, part goat, with bat wings, scary claws, and a tail that’s forked like it’s ready for a barbecue. Where does it lurk? In the Pine Barrens, of course—a place so ecologically bizarre that our guide called it a “weird hybrid,” with only one other similar spot on earth, and that’s somewhere in Africa!
The Pine Barrens are pretty much New Jersey’s own enchanted forest—spanning a mind-blowing 1.1 million acres over seven counties. It’s rural, mysterious, and somehow sits close to bustling cities like Philadelphia and New York. If you love botanical oddities, you’ll be thrilled: Venus fly traps snap up unwary insects, cranberries dot the landscape, and who knows—you might just spot the Jersey Devil (or at least a hammerhead bat) soaring overhead!
So whether you’re a city dweller or prefer the quirky wilderness, New Jersey is ready to surprise you with every mile. Pack your bags, keep your eyes peeled, and remember: in the Garden State, even your myths come with wings!
Let’s dive deeper into the wild tale of the Jersey Devil, also known as the Leeds Devil! Picture this: it’s 1735, and Mrs. Leeds—a 25-year-old mother—finds herself expecting her 13th child. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she supposedly exclaims, “Let this one be the devil!” After the baby arrives, everything seems normal—until five minutes later, when it transforms into a winged monster and shoots up the chimney, vanishing into the mysterious Pine Barrens. Since then, more than 700 people claim they’ve spotted the beast, with sightings stretching from the days of Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, he was in New Jersey!) all the way to 2023. Like any good legend, the Jersey Devil’s story keeps evolving with every “encounter.”
Some say the Pine Barrens is filled with wild creatures—including the hammerhead bat, which could easily spook someone into thinking they’ve seen a monster. But honestly, why spoil the fun? Whether you’re searching for the Devil in the woods, or cheering for the Jersey Devils at a hockey game, this state monster keeps New Jersey’s imagination alive!
No act of Congress made it official, but ask anyone in New Jersey—the Jersey Devil is absolutely the state’s monster.
The legend has even more twists: the Leeds family, famous for publishing astrological almanacs back in colonial New Jersey, supposedly had their own run-ins with the Devil. Some say the creature got its bad reputation because the family supported the American Revolution. And with all those bats swooping through the Pine Barrens, it’s easy to see how a hammerhead bat—feeding on mosquitoes by the thousands—could be mistaken for a dinosaur-like beast by anyone wandering the woods at night. So next time you’re in South Jersey, keep your eyes peeled… you never know what you might spot!
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared plenty of interesting tidbits throughout the tour. Here’s another fun fact: New Jersey’s capitol is the only one in the country where you can look out and see another state. From the building, you can gaze across the Delaware River and spot Pennsylvania.
The Rotunda
Step under the magnificent dome in the rotunda and you’re in for a treat! Our guide pointed out some quirky features, like the mysterious dragons woven into the architecture—no one really knows why, but legend has it these eastern dragons are guardians of humanity. 🐉✨ Over the door, an eagle stands watch where the main entrance used to be, although now the dome sits off-center after years of expansions. And get this: Tim swears the dome towers a whopping 140 feet overhead! Who knew state history could be so whimsical?
If you enjoyed this tour of the New Jersey State Capitol, leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts! Pretty, please! 😁 I won’t hound you. The email you will provide is to prove to AI that you are not, in fact, AI.
À la prochaine…hasta la próxima vez…until next time!
“I am the Lord, who heals you.” ~Exodus 15:26
My relationship with Jesus Christ motivates me to keep blogging. Though I have metastatic breast cancer*, my faith helps me survive, thrive, and feel alive while staying active. Without Him, I couldn’t achieve anything. With His help, well, my accomplishments speak for themselves on my blog. If you’re interested in learning about building a relationship with Jesus, feel free to comment below. I will never sell or share your email.
*Metastatic breast cancer is Stage IV cancer. Metastatic, or metastasis, means the cancer has spread beyond the original location (breast and immediate lymph nodes). In 2016 the doctors found significant metastasis to my bones, skull, liver, and lungs; then in 2018 to the brain. However, with chemo, immunotherapy, gamma knife, and of course my faith in the Lord, it is all undetectable at this point. I continue in treatment every three weeks via infusions, and receive multiple scans on a regular basis. If you or someone you know has metastatic breast cancer, I recommend these organizations for additional support:
Metavivor and Unite for Her (also for ovarian cancer)