United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Tearing Up House Floor, Washington

Black and white photograph showing two workers working on the floor in the House Chamber. All of the seats have been removed from the chamber and the floor is bare. The paintings next to the rostrum are covered with tarps. Wood pieces, a broom, saw, axe, and hammer are visible on the floor./tiles/collection/4/49324.xml
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Reverse of photograph with handwritten text reading, “Cities: Wash. Hse of Reps,” and maker’s information/tiles/collection/4/49323.xml
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Black and white photograph showing two workers working on the floor in the House Chamber. All of the seats have been removed from the chamber and the floor is bare. The paintings next to the rostrum are covered with tarps. Wood pieces, a broom, saw, axe, and hammer are visible on the floor.
Reverse of photograph with handwritten text reading, “Cities: Wash. Hse of Reps,” and maker’s information
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Date

1913-03-11

Maker

George Grantham Bain

Dimensions

4 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. (10.8 x 15.9 cm)

Accession Number

PA2013.03.0025a

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

A 1913 renovation marked the end of Members using the chamber as their primary work space. Even the flooring beneath was torn up, a casualty of changes necessitated by the crowded House membership. Workers replaced the desks with theater-style seating, with Members sitting wherever they pleased, but generally respecting the center aisle’s division by party affiliation. A brand-new office building provided more spacious workspace than a chamber desk ever could.

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov