The Sacred Cod in the Massachusetts State House

The Sacred Cod is a carved wooden codfish suspended in the ceiling of the Massachusetts House of Representatives chamber, erected as a symbol of the historic importance of the cod fishing industry to the state's economy. It has occupied this symbolic place in successive legislative chambers since the early 18th century, and modern access to view it is typically via guided tours of the State House rather than casual street-level observation. The wood carving and its political history are well documented in state legislative records and tour materials.