Online Exhibits

Henry Clay in the U.S. Senate: Rediscovering an Historic Painting

The journey of a forgotten painting, from obscurity to the halls of the U.S. Capitol.

Senate Chamber Desks

Learn about the history, preservation, and occupants of each Senate Chamber desk.

Russell Senate Office Building: 1909-2009

Rare photographs illustrate the history of the Senate's first office building.

Isaac Bassett: A Senate Memoir

Isaac Bassett worked for the U.S. Senate from 1831 to 1895. Read about his life and experiences in his own words.

Advise and Consent: Drawings by Lily Spandorf

Artist Lily Spandorf's sketches document the filming of the classic political thriller Advise and Consent in the halls of the Capitol.

Take the Puck Challenge!

An interactive exploration of Puck magazine's 19th-century political cartoons.

Photographic Exhibits

The Senate Through the Ages

The journey through the history of the U.S. Senate, exhibiting paintings, illustrations and photographs.

Capitol Scenes: 1900-1950

Photographs depicting life in and around the U.S. Capitol during the first half of the 20th century.

World War II: The Senate and the Nation's Capital

During World War II, Washington D.C. attracted civilians and military personnel who quickly transformed the nation's capital from a sleepy town into a robust center of international politics and diplomacy. This exhibit honors the men and women who sacrificed so much to promote our national ideals of liberty and representative democracy.

Women Senators

A record number of women serve as U.S. senators today. This exhibit features a few of the pioneers.

African American Senators

Hiram Revels became the first African American senator in 1870, followed by Blanche K. Bruce in 1875.

Arthur E. Scott Collection

Arthur E. (Scotty) Scott, was a professional photographer in Washington, D.C. from 1934 to 1976, who captured on film many prominent people in American politics.