Defined by innovation and an undercurrent of rich history, from our leading companies and cutting edge startups to our government and top tier colleges, Boston inspires. This photo series aims to capture it. Enjoy!

The Massachusetts State House dome, designed by Charles Bulfinch, is literally the beacon of Boston. I’ve always wondered about its history.

Originally made of wood shingles, it was covered in copper by Paul Revere’s company in 1802 to prevent leaking (Revere’s was the first American company to roll copper into commercial sheets). At the time it was painted gray, then light yellow, and finally gilded with gold leaf in 1874. However, during WWII the dome was painted black to prevent reflection during blackouts to protect Boston from potential bomb attacks. In 1997 it was re-gilded at a cost of $300,000 in 23 karat gold.

This photo was taken by Bryan Katz and provides an up-close-and-personal view of the dome. At the top is not actually a pineapple — the symbol for hospitality. It is a pine cone, representing the importance of the lumber industry to Mass. during early colonial times as well as the state of Maine, which provided the lumber to build the State House (Maine’s state flower is the pine cone).

Thanks to Bryan Katz of New Jersey for sharing the stunning photo. You can view all his work here on Flickr, his blog, and follow him on Twitter @njkatz.

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