Congressional awe

These were photos that were taken in the Congress building, which is right next to Independence Hall. In the early days of the republic, after the Constitution was hammered out and put into effect, this building served as a courthouse, the Senate, and the local government headquarters. This is the chair that the first Speaker of the House used. It was in front of this dias where John Adams was inaugurated into office. This peaceful, voluntary passing of control from one living leader of a country to the next was the first ever in history.



Keyholes, locks, and other colonial hardware is going to be a recurring theme as I get my photos from this trip up. I was fascinated by them, and took several photos throughout Philly and Valley Forge when I found locks that caught my eye. This was the keyhole into the House of Representatives.



Both of these clocks are on the Independence Hall building.

This was the silver quill and ink set that was used by the signers of the Declaration of Independence. One of the first copies of the Declaration of Independence that I mentioned earlier is kept in the building on the Independence Mall, and the original is stored in the National Archives. If I get to go back to Chantilly next year, I want to go to the archives and see it in person.



These are very good replicas of the chairs and desks used by the first House of Representatives. The Senate met in the upstairs chamber of this building since they didn't need as much room. Thus the terms upper and lower houses of Congress were established.