National Statuary Hall Collection, Art collection in United States Capitol, USA.
The National Statuary Hall Collection consists of one hundred marble and bronze statues placed throughout various areas of the Capitol building in Washington. The figures spread across hallways, staircases, and chambers, so visitors encounter them while touring the legislative spaces.
The original House of Representatives chamber was repurposed as a hall for statues in 1864 after lawmakers moved to a new wing. The first collection grew gradually as individual states contributed their choices over time.
Each state selected two figures from its past, whose bronze or marble likenesses now stand in the corridors and rooms of the Capitol. The choices range from scientists and artists to activists, so visitors walking through the halls encounter names that shaped each individual state.
Visitors reserve guided tours through the Visitor Center website or contact their congressional representatives to arrange group bookings. The tours cover multiple floors and areas, so comfortable shoes help for longer walks on marble and stone floors.
The curved ceiling of the old chamber creates an echo effect where a quiet word spoken at one spot can be heard clearly at the opposite end. This architectural side effect is demonstrated on guided tours, with visitors often standing at both points to whisper and test the phenomenon.
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