Was Worcester Ever the Capital of Massachusetts? No—Boston Always Has Been

A Common Misconception, Simply Answered

Worcester has never been the capital of Massachusetts.

Boston has served as the colony's, then province's, then state's capital continuously since 1630—the year the Massachusetts Bay Colony established its government there.

Why the Confusion?

• Worcester is the county seat of Worcester County (central MA's largest city).
• It hosted the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779 (which drafted the state constitution ratified in 1780)—but the convention met in Worcester because Boston was occupied by the British (1775‑76). The capital remained Boston.
• Some states did move capitals (e.g., New York: Kingston → Albany; Pennsylvania: Philadelphia → Lancaster → Harrisburg). Massachusetts never did.

Boston: capital for 390+ years and counting.