Firsts & Milestones

Designed by the founders to most closely represent the will and characteristics of the American people, the House of Representatives mirrors the changing face and history of the nation. As a dynamic institution, the House continues to evolve both in terms of the makeup of its membership and its physical setting. Based on frequently asked questions, the following list of House firsts contains chronological information describing some of the significant milestones in the history of this representative body.

Above is an image of the East Front of the Capitol as it looked in 1906.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress