U.S. House History

Integrate historic images, documents, or oral histories into your lessons using our tools (like this one for photographs). Visit our Tools for Teaching with Primary Sources page for more. #TeachingWithPrimarySourceshttps://history.house.gov/Education/Primary-Sources/Primary-Source-Analysis/

Edition for Educators—Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives Since the First Congress opened in 1789, more than 11,000 people have served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most served capably for a few terms and returned to their communities. But some lawmakers have left towering legacies and are remembered for their legislative prowess, path-breaking careers, and bold personalities. These Members of Congress, including powerful Speakers of the House, strong-willed legislators, trailblazing Representatives, and policy specialists, qualify as “Giant...

This month’s Edition for Educators highlights the congressional career of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress. #HistoryBlog

https://history.house.gov/Blog/2025/September/9-30-Education-Ros-Lehtinen/

Election pin shaped like a blue and silver rocket with "Democrat Roybal Congress" visible on the side.

Rep Roybal of #CA's campaign pin was out of this world. #HispanicHeritageMonth https://history.house.gov/Collection/Listing/2007/2007-285-000/

Learn the background for both the Hispanic Caucus & Conference #HispanicHeritageMonth http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/HAIC/Historical-Essays/Strength-Numbers/Caucus-Conference/

Rep McMillan and two female staff dance the Charleston on the steps of the Cannon House Office Building with the Capitol in the background

He played pro baseball and danced the Charleston on the Cannon steps. Rep Thomas McMillan of #SC died #OTD 1939. https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35705?ret=True

Black and white photograph of Patsy Mink.

Rep Patsy Mink of #HI, the first woman of color elected to Congress, died #OTD 2002. #WomeninCongress https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/15032398307

Typed letter from Representative Martin to Speaker Cannon.

Rep Eben Martin of #SD asked Speaker Joe Cannon for a "lesser" committee assignment #OTD 1905. #RecordsSearch #HouseRecords https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436124

Portrait of a balding man in glasses in a dark gray three-piece suit. He is seated in an upholstered chair

#OTD 1962, the House unveiled a portrait of Banking Committee Chairman Brent Spence of #KY. #HouseCollection https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/15032398476

Planning your National History Day project? Learn all about the materials available in our latest #HistoryBlog. https://history.house.gov/Blog/2025/September/9-25-NHD/

Aerial photographs looking north of House office buildings and the Capitol

Taken from the Goodyear Blimp, this photograph showed the Capitol and House office buildings, in September 1941. #HouseCollection https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/15032450563

Handwritten resolution transmitting the amendments to the states for ratification

#OTD 1789, the First Congress sent 12 Constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. 10 of them became the #BillofRights, but one took +200 years to be ratified. The 27th Amendment wasn't approved until 1992. https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35665?ret=True

Robert Smalls of #SC: Real life AND Comic Book Superhero. #ComicBookDay https://history.house.gov/Blog/2021/February/2-26-goldenlegacy/

Image with three layers, a building, a print of several men, and a piece of legislation. Red and blue text in the middle reads "National History Day 2026: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, history.house.gov/nhd/"

The 2026 National History Day theme is Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. To help students prepare contest entries, the Office of the Historian has prepared several collections using material from across this website.
https://history.house.gov/NHD/

Petition from the National American Woman Suffrage Association in favor of the creation of the Committee on Woman Suffrage

#OTD 1917 the House created a Committee on Woman Suffrage. This petition urged its creation. #RecordsSearch #HouseRecords https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436242

Speaker Foley's dog Alice roamed the halls of the House in 1989. #HouseCollection #DogsInPolitics https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/29286

Postcard of the Longworth and Cannon House Office Buildings with autumn trees

Happy First Day of Fall from History, Art & Archives! #AutumnEquinox

portrait of a Kika de la Garza standing in a landscape with cows and a cornfield in the background

Kika de la Garza, born #OTD in 1927 in South Texas, bringing corn and cows to his #HouseCollection portrait. #HispanicHeritageMonth https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/30024

Close-up of Manuel Prado speaking from the House rostrum with Lyndon Baines Johnson and John McCormick seated behind him.

Peruvian President Manuel Prado spoke before a Joint Meeting of Congress #OTD in 1961. #HouseCollection https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/30675

“There was incredible resolve in the House Chamber that night.” #JointSession #OTD 2001 #OralHistory #September11 https://history.house.gov/Oral-History/Events/September-11/September-11-2001/

The Roberto Walker Clemente Congressional Gold Medal | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives On this date, President Richard M. Nixon formally approved P.L. 93–33 (87 Stat. 71), giving the late Roberto Walker Clemente a Congressional Gold Medal. As the right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico, emerged as one of professional baseball’s greatest stars. In his storied 18 seasons with the Pirates, Clemente garnered 3,000 hits, 12 straight Gold Gloves (1961–1972), and the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1966. But he was also celebrated fo...

1 @Pirates honors another, “power hitting...blazing base-running...amazing ability as a fielder." #TalkLikeAPirateDay https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35733?ret=True

Painting of a man with shoulder-length brown hair and a navy double-breasted peacoat.

Arrr! Here be a privateer who helped craft the modern American flag! #TalkLikeAPirateDay #HistoryBlog 📷: @USNHistory https://history.house.gov/Blog/2014/September/9-16-Hoist-the-Colors/

People Search | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives Search the People of the People’s House

Two Parrotts served in the House and they were both "landlubbers." #TalkLikeAPirateDay https://bit.ly/HouseParrotts

Congressional #pickleball on the National Mall tonight? Back to their roots: playing a sport invented by an athletic Representative from Washington, Joel Pritchard. https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/36507223347

Drawing of people in 18th century costume recreating a cornerstone laying ceremony

The US Capitol cornerstone laid #OTD in 1793. #HouseCollection http://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/29799?ret=True

Meet the 167 #Hispanic Members of Congress since 1822. #HispanicHeritageMonth

Conozca los 167 Miembros del Congreso Hispanos desde el año 1822.

📷: @USNatArchives https://history.house.gov/People/Search?filter=11

Connecticut’s resolution celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Constitution by symbolically ratifying the Bill of Rights

Happy #ConstitutionDay! This House Record honors its 150th birthday in 1939. https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436213

For #ConstitutionDay, 33 Continental Congress Delegates signed the #Constitution. Find out who they were: https://loom.ly/tUDVQlI

Rhode Island’s Ratification of the Constitution | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives On this date, Rhode Island became the 13th state to enter the Union after ratifying the Constitution. Ironically, the new state’s late arrival came after the new federal government commenced on April 1, 1789, and the First Congress (1789–1791) had already passed 12 proposed amendments to the Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state not to send a representative to the Constitutional Convention, which approved the document on September 17, 1787. Nine states were needed to ratify the Consti...

And #RhodeIsland makes 13! Ratifying the #Constitution, fashionably late, on May 29, 1790. #ConstitutionDay https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35264?ret=True

Engrossing Copy of Appropriations Bill Funding NASA

"It was here, in these Halls that our venture really began." #OTD 1969, Neil Armstrong acknowledged Congress's role in the moon landing. This #HouseRecord funded #NASA in its early days. @NASAHistory https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436191

sheet of stamps with Barbara Jordan's face on them

Legendary Rep Barbara Jordan of #Texas got a stamp from @USPS #OTD in 2011. #HouseCollection https://history.house.gov/Collection/Listing/2014/2014-059-000