He was history teacher and came to congress and realized there was no organization saying nice things about the congress and thought there ought to be somebody who did that and created the u. S. Capitol Historical Society as a way to create an organization whose responsibility would be to educate the public about the capital, the capital building, the people who served here and the architecture thats here. For over 50 years, we have been doing this with publications. With guide books to the capital. Calendars that we produce and many members purchase and issue to their constituents. And other ways. Were formed by congress, but were not a federal agency. Were a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We have to raise all of our own dollars for people who help sponsored this evening tonight are part of that organization of people who help us stay in business. And every year we try and honor a committee of the congress. This year the ways and Means Committee and we try and alternate between
Before cspan started covering the sessions, this was where the major hearings were televised going back to news reels covering it in the 1920s and 30s. Television came after long in the 1940s. This is where viewers would have seen the crime investigation, army mcarthur hearings, water gate hear agos. This was the most famous televised room until the chamber was open to television. I bring people in here from time to time. You can hear the echoes. You can hear the gavel of the chairma chairman. The story of congress is the story of the nation. Thats a story of growth. The capital started as a very small sand stone square box. It sort of grew as states entered the union and more senators and representatives came. In the 1850s so many entered they had to put on two wings for Current Senate and house chambers. By the 70s they were crowded and couldnt find space for senators to work. Initially senators offices were their desk in the chamber. They were constantly besieged there. So eventuall