The golden dome atop the New Hampshire State House is glistening once again.
Workers have begun to dismantle the scaffolding around the dome on the Civil War-era State House. The $1 million project started in March and is expected to be completed by Dec. 1. The work has involved meticulously laying five pounds of gold leaf in 4-inch squares on the dome and its golden eagle.
The 500,000-pound, 90-foot tower of scaffolding has been reduced to 30 feet, leaving the fresh gilding visible. Workers are now replacing rotted wood and windows on the octagonal lantern that sits below.
The dome's makeover comes to an end as the state launches a three-year-long bicentennial celebration of the State House and its grounds and opens the building on select weekends this fall.
