Multimedia

Take a virtual tour of How the House Works, an exhibition in the Cannon House Office Building Basement Rotunda. Historic artifacts and documents illuminate the surprisingly diverse work that keeps the House of Representatives running.

Take a quick look at Joseph Rainey: 150th Anniversary, an exhibition in the Capitol celebrating the pathbreaking accomplishment of Joseph Rainey, the first African American in the U.S. House of Representatives, and other Black Representatives who followed in his footsteps.

The Rotunda is the symbolic and physical heart of the U.S. Capitol. The circular room functions as the Capitol's principal circulation space that connects the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. In this video, House Curator Farar Elliott describes and recounts the history of the Rotunda's art featuring Native Americans, which thousands of visitors view each day.

The Speaker's Lobby—situated directly outside the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol—is a long corridor featuring portraits of past Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives. In this video, House Curator Farar P. Elliott describes and recounts the history of the space.