National Statuary Hall (USCHS)

The House of Representatives considered the important issues of slavery, territorial expansion, and states’ rights vs. federal rights in this chamber from 1807 to 1857. Presidential inaugurations held in the chamber included those of James Madison (1809, 1813), James Monroe (1821), John Quincy Adams (1825), and Andrew Jackson (1833).  Millard Fillmore took the oath of office in this room when he succeeded to the presidency after the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850.

Because of the domed ceiling, the room suffered from poor acoustics. Draperies were hung in an attempt to muffle annoying echoes.  On February 21, 1848, former President John Quincy Adams suffered a fatal stroke in this chamber while serving as a Member of Congress.

The plaster sculpture of Liberty and the Eagle (1819) by Enrico Causici is part of the allegorical embellishment of the House Chamber. The Car of History clock (1819) by Carlo Franzoni depicts Clio, the muse representing History, recording events as she rides in the winged car of Time.

In 1864, Congress created National Statuary Hall, which provided the empty chamber with a new function. The law reads, in part: "The States to provide and furnish statues, in marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each state, of deceased persons, who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military service as each State may deem worthy of this national commemoration."  Many of the statues are displayed in the chamber, or in halls nearby.  Nevada and New Mexico completed the collection of 100 statues with their additions in 2005. States may now replace statues donated to the collection; Kansas was the first to do so, sending a statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2003 to replace the statue of George W. Glick.