112th Congress, 2nd Session
May 24, 1844
On this date, surrounded by an audience of Congressmen, inventor Samuel Morse sent the first official telegraph from the Supreme Court Chamber (then located in the Capitol) to his partner, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore.
December 28, 1854
On this date, artist Constantino Brumidi met Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, engineer in charge of the construction and decoration of the Capitol extension.
January 17, 1866
On this date, Constantino Brumidi’s fresco, The Apotheosis of George Washington, was first reviewed in the National Intelligencer.
June 16, 1870
Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark formally asked artist Seth Eastman to decorate the House Committee on Military Affairs hearing room.
June 19, 1962
The House moved the portrait of Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas from its longtime home to the Speaker’s Lobby.
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House LegislationHave students search the highlight dates and locate reference to any legislative document (bill, resolution, speech, etc.). Ask students to track down the document at a local depository library. Students should research the historical background of the document and make a brief presentation which includes reading all or portions of the document aloud. To locate a nearby federal depository library go to http://catalog.gpo.gov.
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