The Great Hall is the most recent 20th century addition to the inside of the State House, completed in 1990. Previously it was an open space. It was built up from the basement and topped with a glass dome. This magnificent tri-colored marbled hall is used for official state functions and receptions. The clock was designed by R.M. Fischer a New York artist, to serve as a functional piece of artwork. Fischer was inspired by the clocks that grace the town halls, churches and other meeting halls of New England. In an attempt to relate to the space surrounding the clock, he has employed many arcs and circles that echo the architectural elements of the building such as the arched doorways and circular patterns of the marbled floor.

The walls are decorated with flags of the cities and towns of Massachusetts. If you’re interested in finding a flag from the First Franklin, below is a list of their placement:

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Ashfield - East Wall, Middle Row, #36

Buckland - West Wall, Top Row, #10

Conway - East Wall, Middle Row, #44

Deerfield - East Wall, Bottom Row, #29

Leverett - South Wall, Middle Row, #8

Shelburne - East Wall, Middle Row, #49

Shutesbury - East Wall, Middle Row, #21

Sunderland - West Wall, Middle Row, #17

Whately - South Wall, Middle Row, #3

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

Chesterfield - East Wall, Middle Row, #24

Cummington - West Wall, Top Row, #11

Goshen - West Wall, Top Row, #15

Huntington - East Wall, Top Row, #32

Middlefield - West Wall, Top Row, #22

Plainfield - North Wall, Top Row, #1

Williamsburg - South Wall, Middle Row, #4

Worthington - East Wall, Middle Row, #50

HAMPDEN COUNTY

Chester - West Wall, Top Row, #20