New Jersey State House, Capitol building in State House Historic District, Trenton, United States
The New Jersey State House is a government building in the State House Historic District in Trenton that houses both the state legislature and portions of the executive branch. The gilded dome covered with 48,000 pieces of gold leaf rises above a complex of connected sections and wings.
Construction began in 1792 with a budget of 400 dollars, making this the second oldest continuously operating capitol in the United States. The dome was added later in the 19th century and underwent major restoration work in the 20th century.
The motto 'Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum' means 'Let justice be done though the heavens fall' and appears in the rotunda. The space beneath the dome now serves as a gathering point where lawmakers and staff move between different wings of the government complex.
Tours of the capitol take place on weekdays and require passing through security checkpoints with metal detectors at the entrance. Public areas on the ground floor and in the rotunda remain accessible during opening hours.
School children across New Jersey raised funds through the 'Dimes for the Dome' program and sponsored individual gold leaf pieces at one dollar each during the restoration. The effort connected thousands of young people with the preservation of their state government seat and made them contributors to the building's upkeep.
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