Capitol History
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
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
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
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.