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Art & Artifacts

Capitol History

Old House Chamber c1834, William Goodacre House Collection

Statuary Hall: A History
Learn about the Old House Chamber’s historic evolution to Statuary Hall in this virtual tour.

History of Slave Laborers in the Construction of the United States Capitol
Read about the history of slave labor in the construction of the United States Capitol in a report released by the House and Senate’s Slave Labor Task Force.

The Splendid Hall
Take a virtual tour of the Old House Chamber, the original meeting place of the House of Representatives.

House Art and Artifacts

Nancy Pelosi

Black Americans in Congress
Discover the rich history of African-American Members of Congress through the portraits, historic photographs, campaign buttons, and other artifacts that chart the journey from emancipation to congressional leadership.

Capitol Furniture: Design for an Expanding Nation
The U.S. Capitol’s 1857 expansion brought a stylishly furnished new Chamber to the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn about the historic furniture used by Members of the House during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Congressional Baseball Game
You can’t tell the players without a scorecard – explore programs, historic photos, and, yes, scorecards from a century of congressional baseball.

Florence Kahn: Congressional Widow to Trailblazing Lawmaker
View an array of artifacts that celebrate the career of the first Jewish woman in Congress and the first woman to serve on the Appropriations Committee, from photographs and portraits to J. Edgar Hoover’s letter to “Mother Kahn.”

“Thoroughly American”—Albert Bierstadt’s Landscape Paintings
What Capitol paintings stretch from sea to shining sea? Find out more about the history of “Discovery of the Hudson” and “Entrance into Monterey,” paintings that show explorers on both coasts.

Women in Congress
From the first woman to serve in Congress, in 1917, to the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, the House Collection illustrates the progress of Congresswomen through photos, campaign buttons, and more.

House Office Buildings

Cannon House Office Building

Cannon House Office Building
Learn about the oldest congressional office building, completed in 1908. The creation of offices for Members of Congress forever changed how the House of Representatives worked.

Notable Office Assignments in the House
Learn which of America’s most notable politicians—Speakers of the House and U.S. Presidents—occupied the offices of the Cannon, Longworth, and Rayburn House Office Buildings.

The Capitol Today

House Chamber

The House Chamber
Take a closer look at the different areas of the House Chamber, including the Speaker’s Rostrum, the House Floor, and the Press Gallery, and learn about the activities that take place in each area.

The Lindy Claiborne Boggs Room
A witness to over two centuries of history, the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room has hosted numerous historical figures and more recently, scores of women who have served in the House. Since 1962, it has served as a meeting place for congressional women.

The Members’ Dining Room
View the history and artifacts of The Members’ Dining Room located within the U.S. House of Representatives.

Speaker’s Rooms in the Capitol
Elected by the House membership as the chamber’s presiding officer, the Speaker of the House symbolizes the institution’s power and authority. Over time, the grand spaces within the Capitol used by the Speaker have reflected that stature.

Virtual Tours of the Capitol and its Historic Spaces
Explore the heritage of the House of Representatives through behind-the-scenes video tours of the U.S. Capitol.


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