The Sacred Cod in the Massachusetts State House

The 'Sacred Cod' is a carved wooden codfish that hangs in the chamber of the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a symbol of the state's historical dependence on the fishing industry. The tradition of displaying a cod carving in the legislature dates to the colonial and early statehood periods, and the current carving is part of that long-standing practice. The cod is frequently referenced in local political ceremonies and popular accounts of Massachusetts maritime heritage.