National Statuary Hall

The National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol in Washington DC, will be exhibited in the statues of famous Americans. The hall, known as the " Old Hall of the House", is a large, two-story, semicircular room with a large dome. It is located south of the rotunda. The hall was from 1807 to 1857 the Assembly Hall of the House of Representatives of the United States and is now the main exhibition space of the National Statuary Hall Collection.

Description

The room is built in the shape of an ancient amphitheater and is one of the earliest examples of neoclassical architecture in America. While most wall surfaces are made of painted plaster, the lower walls of the gallery and the pilasters made ​​of sandstone. Around the room are colossal columns of variegated breccia marble quarried along the Potomac River. The Corinthian capitals of white marble were cut in Carrara (Italy). A skylight in the ceiling fireproof cast iron allows natural light into the hall. The floor is covered with black and white marble. The black marble was specially purchased, while it is the white marble is residues of the extension measures at the Capitol.

Only two of the many statues that are now in the hall, had been originally commissioned for the Chamber of the House in order. Enrico Causicis plaster statue of Liberty and the Eagle overlooks the hall from a niche behind the podium of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States. The eagle sandstone was carved by Giuseppe Valaperta. Above the door to the Rotund is Car of History by Carlo Franzoni. This Neoclassical marble sculpture depicts Clio, the muse of history, which goes in the car of the time and listed the events among themselves. The cartwheel is the clock, a work by Simon Willard.

It is reported that John Quincy Adams, the acoustics of the room used to eavesdrop on the other side of the room. This one can still test today. If you stand just south of the chandelier, one of the Statue of Freedom can see through the skylight.

History

The room is the second and the third plenary meeting of the House at this location. Previously, the members gathered in a squat, oval building, called "the oven", which was built in 1801 hastily. The first permanent auditorium, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, was completed in 1807. It was destroyed in 1814, when British troops burned the Capitol during the War of 1812 in 1814. The hall was rebuilt in its present form by Latrobe and his successor, Charles Bulfinch 1815-1819 again. However, the smooth, vaulted ceiling promotes disturbing echoes that make communication difficult. Various attempts to improve the acoustics, such as curtains or a revised seating arrangements were unsuccessful. The only solution to this problem was the construction of a new plenary chamber in which the debates were better understood. 1850, this new hall was approved and in 1857 moved the House of Representatives in today's plenary hall in the new building wing.

Many important events took place in this room, as it was used by the House of Representatives. 1824 Marquis de Lafayette was here the first foreign citizen who spoke before Congress. The President James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Millard Fillmore were sworn in here. Especially Adams has long been connected to the chamber. In the 1824 presidential election neither candidate a majority of the electoral votes to win. Now the vote of the House of Representatives was crucial, the surprisingly chose Adams, who reigned four years. In 1831 he was elected to the House of Representatives. This he was 17 years until his death. On 21 February 1848 he suffered a stroke during a debate. Two days later he died in his adjacent office.

The fate of the vacant space has long been uncertain, although numerous suggestions have been made use of. The simplest solution would be to use by the Library of Congress have been, which was still in the Capitol. Dramatic was the proposal to demolish the whole hall and replace it with two floors with committee rooms. Finally, the use of space has been approved as an art gallery and art works that were intended for the buildings of the Capitol were exhibited there. This included the plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, which was later cast in bronze for the dome of the Capitol. Since there was little wall space, no large paintings could be hung. The room, however, seemed suitable to exhibit statues.

1864 invited the Congress an all states to donate two statues of prominent citizens for the exhibition in the hall. The new name of the room was now National Statuary Hall. The ground was leveled and the still to be seen marble tiles were laid. Beginning of the 20th century was the original wood ceiling, whose original color simulating a three-dimensional coffered ceiling, replace the current ceiling. Thus, the most disturbing echoes of the past have been eliminated.

The first statue was erected in 1870, in 1971 had all 50 states donated at least one statue and by 1990 45 states had donated two statues. At the beginning were all the statues in the National Statuary Hall. Over time, the collection grew and became too big for the room. 1933, the installation of the exhibits was approved by Congress throughout the Capitol. Today there are 38 statues in the National Statuary Hall.

1976, the space has been renovated for the bicentenary. At this time, the original fireplaces were uncovered and replicas of the original mantels were installed. Reproductions of the chandeliers, wall lamps and red curtains were using the old oil painting The House of Representatives by Samuel FB Morse, painted in 1822, made ​​. The painting now hangs in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in soil bronze plaques were in honor of the President, were present at the time in Repräsentenhaus, as this met here.

Nowadays, the Statuary Hall one of the most visited rooms of the Capitol. He is visited daily by hundreds of visitors and continue to be used for special occasions. These include events honoring foreign dignitaries and lunch to the Congress every four years, inviting the newly sworn President.

Statuary

The following list shows the depicted persons and the state, which has donated the statue:

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