National Statuary Hall: Guidebook for a walking tour

The term "Statuary Hall" has several meanings and uses. More properly "National Statuary Hall," that term refers to the statuary presented by the individual states to the Federal government in response to the 1864 legislation sponsored by Congressman (later Senator) Justin Morrill of Vermont.

The old House of Representatives chamber had been vacated in favor of the newly-designed and constructed House Chamber and there had been several proposals for the use of the old chamber. It had been used as a portrait gallery, but the portraits were visually lost among the marble columns of the room. Senator Morrill suggested that statues be donated by each state to commemorate not more than two citizens of illustrious renown. At the time, there were few states in the Union and it was probably supposed that the Hall could accommodate all of them, with room to spare.

As the number of states in the Union grew, however, it became apparent that the number of statues which could be accommodated in "Statuary Hall" (the room) would have to be limited. In 1933, the situation became intolerable. Statues were stacked three deep in some places and it was not possible to properly view the various figures. Congress then directed the Architect of the Capitol to make suitable arrangements to disburse the statues in other areas of the Capitol building. As the reader can imagine, this was not an easy process since it was decided that the 65 statues then in "Statuary Hall" would be reduced to 38.

Today, the "National Statuary Hall" collection consists of 95 statues by 61 different sculptors in 10 different areas of the U.S. Capitol building. The list below shows their locations and the order in which this guidebook is laid out. See the building map on the back cover of this book.

The subjects of the statues range from the legendary (George Washington) to the truly obscure (John Burke). Even with the lesser-known figures, however, they were of sufficient stature in their own state to be the subject of state legislative resolutions or bills denominating them as representatives of the state, followed by a funding campaign at either state expense or public subscription. The purpose of this book is to provide biographical information for these 95 honorees and to provide a map and guide for a walking tour so that you can see your state's statues or all 95 or any combination.

An index by state is provided and an index by honoree are found on the inside back cover pages.

Andrew Jackson from Tennessee (with picture of statue) Soldier, Congressman, Senator, and 7th President of the United States Born: Waxhaw Settlement, SC (on the NC border), on March 15, 1767 Died: Nashville, TN, on June 8, 1845 Interred: The Hermitage, near Nashville, TN

Though just a boy, Jackson participated in the Revolutionary War, was captured by the British and imprisoned. After his release, he worked for a time in a saddler's shop and afterward, taught school. He studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina, was admitted to the Bar in 1787, and commenced practice in 1788 in Jonesboro (now Tennessee). He was Solicitor of the Western District of North Carolina, comprising what is now the State of Tennessee, in 1788. He held the same position in the territorial government of Tennessee after 1791 and was a delegate to the convention to write a constitution for the new state of Tennessee in 1796.

After Tennessee's admission into the Union, Jackson was elected to the 4th and 5th Congresses, serving from December 5, 1796, until he resigned in September 1797, to take his seat in the United States Senate. He resigned seven months later (April 1798) to become a judge of the Tennessee Supreme Court and served until 1804.

Jackson was in business and in planting until he became Commander of Tennessee forces in the Creek War of 1813. His victory in that war brought him a commission as Major-General in the United States Army in May 1814, and he led his army to victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, the only major U.S. military victory of the war. Afterwards, he commanded an expedition which captured Florida in 1817 and he served as governor of that new territory in 1821. Tennessee returned him to the U.S. Senate in 1823. He served two and one-half years and again resigned.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for President in 1824, but was elected as a Democrat in 1828 and 1832. After his eight years as U.S. President, he retired to his country home, the "Hermitage" near Nashville, Tennessee. He lived eight more years. Jackson is remembered for many things: (1) his only unsuccessful drive for the Presidency (in 1824) saw the election decided by the House of Representatives, (2) he was the architect of forced Indian removal from the Southeastern U.S., and (3) he was committed to hold the Union together. (Information on the sculptors:)

Belle Kinney, born in Tennessee, and her husband Leopold F. Scholz were the sculptors of this bronze statue. The pair also collaborated on the statue of Tennessee's other Statuary Hall figure, John Sevier (located in Statuary Hall itself). Located in the Rotunda