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Massachusetts State House Trivia Quiz

Here's a short but tough quiz about the Massachusetts State House. It should be fairly easy if you are familiar with the building.

A multiple-choice quiz by irishchic5. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
irishchic5

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
128,770

Updated
Feb 23 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
549

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where is the "sacred cod" located in the State House? Hint

The House Chamber

The governor's office

The front lawn

The Senate Chamber

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Question 2 of 10

2. Prior to June 2003 the past four governors of Massachusetts were Republicans.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. The governor's office has its own sacred fish.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Where is a series of murals depicting the Revolutionary War located? Hint

House Chamber

Great Hall

The Hall of Flags

Nurse's Hall

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Senate has its own fish in their chamber. What do they call it? Hint

The Senate's Salmon

Sacred Cod Jr.

Holy Mackerel

Freddie the Fish

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Question 7 of 10

7. What room in the State House displays the flag of each city and town in Massachusetts? Hint

The Hall of Flags

State House Library

Gardner Auditorium

The Great Hall

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Question 8 of 10

8. A statue that was originally built for Nurse's Hall ended up being too large to fit inside the front doors, so officials moved it across the street to the Boston Common

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. On how many occasions can both front doors of the State House be opened? Hint

none

one

any time

three

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was the last sitting President to visit the Massachusetts State House? Hint

Taft

Clinton

JFK

Coolidge

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where is the "sacred cod" located in the State House?

Answer: The House Chamber

The sacred cod hangs above the visitor's gallery in the House Chamber. It is a tribute to the fishing industry, one of the state's largest industries.

2. Prior to June 2003 the past four governors of Massachusetts were Republicans.

Answer: True

Only three of the governors were actually elected. William Weld left in a failed bid for ambassadorship. His lieutenant governor, Paul Cellucci, succeeded him but left to become Ambassador to Canada. His replacement, Jane Swift, chose not to run again. Mitt Romney took office in January 2003.

3. Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion

Answer: True

In the 1980s, the lack of a mansion became so severe that the governor had an air chute in the State House converted into a room used only for entertaining!

4. The governor's office has its own sacred fish.

Answer: True

As a joke, Governor Weld caught a fish, had it stuffed and called it his own holy fish. It stuck, and the fish now sits permanently in the governor's office

5. Where is a series of murals depicting the Revolutionary War located?

Answer: The Hall of Flags

The Hall of Flags also contains copies of American and military flags from the Revolutionary War and the US Civil War. The originals are kept in climate controlled vaults in the basement.

6. The Senate has its own fish in their chamber. What do they call it?

Answer: Holy Mackerel

Not to be outdone by the House's and Governor's fish, the Senate adopted a marine mascot of their own, known as the Holy Mackerel. This fish was actually incorporated into the design of the chandelier that dominates the Senate Chamber.

7. What room in the State House displays the flag of each city and town in Massachusetts?

Answer: The Great Hall

The Great Hall is the room that was originally an air chute but was converted into a room for entertaining. Narrow but two stories tall, the echo in the room made for an acoustics nightmare. To muffle the echo, officials hung a copy of every flag for each of Massachusetts' approximately 350 cities and towns.

8. A statue that was originally built for Nurse's Hall ended up being too large to fit inside the front doors, so officials moved it across the street to the Boston Common

Answer: True

The statue was of the 54th regiment, the first military regiment to consist of all African-Americans. The 54th was based out of Massachusetts and was the inspiration for the movie "Glory" starring Denzel Washington.

9. On how many occasions can both front doors of the State House be opened?

Answer: three

The two front doors of the State House can only be opened for a visiting sitting President, for the Governor's last exit on his or her last day in office, and when a military regiment is presenting its battle flag for display in the State House.

10. Who was the last sitting President to visit the Massachusetts State House?

Answer: Taft

Coolidge was a Massachusetts State Senate President, but he never visited his old office as President. Kennedy made a speech at the State House after he had been elected President but before he had been inaugurated, making Taft the last sitting President ever to visit the State House.

Source: Author irishchic5

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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