Montpelier and the Vermont State House
A golden dome rises above the trees and rooftops of Montpelier, Vermont. Beneath it stands the Vermont State House, where people make decisions that affect the whole state. Montpelier is small for a state capital, but the work that happens there reaches far beyond the city.
A capital in the hills
Montpelier sits in central Vermont, along the Winooski River. Wooded hills surround the city, and the North Branch of the Winooski flows into the larger river there. Montpelier is the state capital, meaning it is the main home of Vermont’s state government. It is also the county seat of Washington County.
A capital does not have to be a state’s largest city. Burlington, near Lake Champlain, has more residents than Montpelier. Montpelier’s central location, however, places the State House closer to many communities across Vermont than a capital at the edge of the state would be.
Inside the State House
The State House is easy to recognize by its gold-covered dome and the tall columns at its entrance. Its outside walls are made of Vermont granite, a hard stone found in the state. At the top of the dome stands a statue representing agriculture, an important part of Vermont’s economy and history.
- residents:
- People who live in a place.
- granite:
- A hard type of rock used in buildings.
- agriculture:
- The work of growing crops and raising animals.
- economy:
- The system of work, business, and trade in a place.
- landmark:
- A place or building that is easy to recognize or important.
- chambers:
- Rooms used for official meetings.
- debate:
- To discuss different opinions about an issue.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why might Montpelier’s central location be useful for a state capital?
- 2How does the comparison with Burlington show that a capital does not have to be the largest city?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Montpelier and the Vermont State House” is a explanatory article reading passage about Vermont state government, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (482 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.