Congress Hall, Philadelphia

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

• Architect: Samuel Lewis

• Style: Georgian / Federal

• Completed in: 1789

• Designation: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Congress Hall, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a historic building that served as the meeting place for the United States Congress from 1790 to 1800. As the nation's capital during this period, Philadelphia played a crucial role in the early governance of the United States. The building is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Independence National Historical Park.

The Congress Hall was built in 1789 by Samuel Lewis in the Georgian / Federal architectural style. The building was originally served as the Philadelphia Country Courthouse, however, it soon became to be served as the Capitol of the U. S. Congress when Philadelphia was the the capital of the U. S. from 1790 -1800.

Plaque stating that the building was used as the Capitol

The Congress Hall was also the site of the presidential inaugurations of George Washington (for his second term) and John Adams. Following Washington's inauguration as the first president of the U.S. in 1793, John Adams was inaugurated in 1797, becoming the second president of the United States.

Second presidential inauguration of George Washington [Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

As the former Philadelphia Country Courthouse became the Capitol of the U.S., the building was transformed to house the chamber for the House of Representatives on the first floor and the chamber for the United States Senate on the second floor.

The chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives was designed with desks set up in a semi-circular formation, while the Speaker presided over the sessions from an elevated armchair. The chamber accommodated 106 representatives from 16 states: the 13 original states as well as the representatives from the three new states, namely Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The inauguration of John Adams was held on March 4, 1797 in the House of Representatives chamber. It marked a historic moment, representing the peaceful handover of power, a fundamental aspect of the country's democracy. This makes John Adams the first head of state to peacefully and legally take over from a living predecessor since Louis I of Spain in 1724.

Chamber of the House of Representatives

The interior of the Congress Hall, including the chamber of the House of Representatives, features an elegant and refined design, contrasting with the sturdy and decorative character found in the Independence Hall, which was constructed 36 years earlier and adjoins the Congress Hall.

Chair on the Speaker on the higher platform

The chamber of U.S. Senates is located on the second floor of the Congress Hall. The room was furnished with a double row of members' desks and chairs covered in red leather. It also featured a large carpet depicting an eagle holding an olive branch and 13 arrows, two fireplaces, and the presiding officer's desk with a red leather chair beneath a canopy. It is also the site of inauguration of the President George Washington for his second term.

Chamber of U.S. Senates

Chair of the Presiding Officer of the U.S. Senates (Vice President)

Handwoven Carpet

In the committee rooms adjacent to the Senate Chamber, portraits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, gifted by the French monarch after the American Revolution, are displayed.

Portrait of Louis XVI

Portrait of Marie Antoinette

References:

Klein, C. (2021, January 11). A tour of lesser-known presidential inaugural sites. History. https://www.history.com/news/a-tour-of-lesser-known-presidential-inaugural-sites

National Park Service. (n.d.). Visiting Congress Hall. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/congresshall.htm

United States Capitols. (n.d.). Congress Hall. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.unitedstatescapitals.org/p/congress-hall.html

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Congress Hall. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_Hall

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Inauguration of John Adams. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_John_Adams