Massachusetts State House Tour and the Sacred Cod Exhibit
The State House in Massachusetts contains 160 state representatives, 40 state senators and one wooden cod fish. For over 200 years, this four foot eleven inch wooden cod has hung in the House chamber. The cod is a representation of a fish that once served as fertilizer and food staple for the Pilgrims and is known as the “Sacred Cod”. Ships sailing to the West Indies from Massachusetts would trade the cod for coffee and spices and then travel to Europe trading the cod for fruit, wine and salt.
The first and original cod fish was destroyed and burned in a fire in 1747 at the Old State House. During the Revolutionary War the second cod fish was ruined. The third cod fish dates to approximately 1784 and the maker is unknown. While preparing to move to a new chamber house in 1895, it was debated whether the wooden cod fish would go with them. The decision was to bring the cod to their new location and hang in the House chamber as it always has been a traditional part of the House chamber. In earlier years being that the fishing industry was so very crucial to Massachusetts, the wooden cod represents those days gone by.If you like what you see, keep going: MASSACHUSETTS, USA: Moving right along