Becoming Statuary Hall: 1857–Present
A Vacant Hall
About this object The Old Hall of the House occasionally hosted exhibitions and events, such as the display of medals won by Americans at the 1867 International Exposition in Paris.
The Statue Proposal
On April 19, 1864, Representative Justin S. Morrill proposed a new purpose for the room: “To what end more useful or grand, and at the same time simple and inexpensive, can we devote it [the Chamber] than to ordain that it shall be set apart for the reception of such statuary as each State shall elect to be deserving of in this lasting commemoration?”
About this object Taken around 1865, this stereoview captures the room completely vacant, a rare instance of underutilized space in the usually crowded Capitol.
This proposal was enacted into the law creating the National Statuary Hall, on July 2, 1864 (sec. 1814 of the Revised Statutes), the essential part of which specifies that each state would be invited “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 services such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration; and when so furnished the same shall be placed in the Old Hall of the House of Representatives, in the Capitol of the United States . . . as a national statuary hall for the purpose herein indicated.”
Overcrowding Issues
About this object Founding fathers were among the first statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection.
By 1935, 65 statues were crowded into Statuary Hall. In some places they were lined three deep. In addition to being poorly exhibited, the structure of the Chamber would not accommodate the excessive weight, and there were statues yet to come. So, under authority of the 1933 resolution, it was decided that only one statue from each State should be placed in Statuary Hall. The other statues were displayed in prominent spots throughout the Capitol.
Statuary Hall Today