The Pavilion, Montpelier

The Pavilion serves as the principal workplace of the governor of Vermont, occupying a prominent position on State Street in Montpelier, the state’s capital. Designed in the French Second Empire style, the building brings together the functional and ceremonial aspects of government, housing the governor’s offices, reception and briefing rooms, and residential quarters, alongside offices for other statewide officials and cultural institutions. The phrase “The Fifth Floor” has become a shorthand reference to the governor’s administration, reflecting the location of the executive offices within the building.

Behind its current form lies a long and layered history. The present structure, completed in 1971, stands on the site of a series of earlier buildings, most notably the 19th-century Pavilion hotel, once known as Vermont’s “third house” for its close ties to the state’s political life. Over time, the grand hotel declined and was ultimately demolished, replaced by a reconstructed version that echoes its predecessor’s exterior while adapting the interior for modern governmental use.

In addition to housing executive offices, The Pavilion is home to the Vermont Historical Society Museum. It offers a comprehensive look at the state’s history, spanning from the time of the Abenaki to the early 21st century.