New $70,000 Rhode Island State House Rug Has Wrong State Seal

The large floor covering will need to be repaired after the mistake was discovered.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A new $70,000 rug installed in the Rhode Island State House has the wrong state seal stitched into it, not once but twice. The 1,125-square-foot rug was just put in place on February 2nd, but officials have acknowledged the mistake and say they will need to hand-cut the incorrect seals out and sew in the proper ones.

Why it matters

The state recently voted to remove the phrase "and Providence Plantations" from its official name, requiring updates to the state seal. This rug mishap highlights the challenges state officials have faced in making all the necessary changes across various state properties and materials.

The details

The new rug was installed in the second-floor State Room, which is located next to the governor's office and is often used for news conferences and ceremonial events. The two incorrect state seals on the rug are currently being covered up by round area rugs with $110 price tags still attached.

  • The $70,000 rug was installed on February 2, 2026.
  • Voters removed the phrase "and Providence Plantations" from the state's official name in 2020.

The players

Rhode Island Department of Administration

The state agency responsible for overseeing the installation of the new rug at the Rhode Island State House.

Stark Carpet Corp.

The Boston-based company that sold the $70,000 rug to the state of Rhode Island.

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What they’re saying

“The mistake on the seal was simply human error, and the plan is to correct it.”

— Karen Greco, Spokesperson, Rhode Island Department of Administration (WPRI)

What’s next

The state is waiting for a timeline and cost estimate to hand-cut the incorrect seals out of the rug and sew in the proper ones.

The takeaway

This rug mishap highlights the ongoing challenges state officials face in updating Rhode Island's branding and materials to reflect the 2020 removal of "and Providence Plantations" from the state's official name, requiring changes to the state seal across various state properties.