The Capitol is rich with history – some you might have studied some of it in school or heard on field trips, but there are lesser-known facts that are just as fascinating that keep Congress running on a day to day basis. Take a journey to the Capitol of the United States with these curious facts you might not be familiar with. You might be able to wow your friends at your next trivia night.
The Magic of Disney
Yes, Disney has even played a role in Congress history. At the point when Mickey Mouse was set to enter public domain, Disney lobbied to extend the length of the copyright protection so they could maintain ownership of the classic mouse. They were successful in their endeavor and the law from then on was referred to as the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act.”
Batter Up!
Congress plays a yearly traditional baseball game. Not surprising anyone, the teams are the Democrats and the Republicans. This tradition started in 1909 and the Republicans have the leg up in wins. It must be a very interesting game to watch as the median age of Senators in Congress is 62.9 years.
Candy Shop
There is a desk in the US Senate (desk 80 to be exact) that is known as the candy desk because it has housed candy in it since 1956. Senator George Murphy was the first to share candy with his house mates and the tradition still lives on today. The desk is Republican but is available to anyone despite a party affiliation. The Democrats created their own drawer but doesn’t carry the same history or popularity. Nowadays, it is stocked with candy from that Senators’ state and is still available to whoever wants it.
Underground Road
There is a private subway system under the capitol. It started in 1901 so congressmen could travel quickly to meetings and their offices. It was originally a road with cars that traveled forward and in reverse. In 1912 the cars and road were replaced with a monorail system. The shortest monorail ride lasts a whopping 45 seconds. Talk about speedy transportation.
Next in Line
Ever wonder who is next in line to the presidency after the Vice President? The Speaker of the House is after the VP. James K. Polk has been the only Speaker of the House who eventually became President.
Hamilton Facts
Aside from all the history you’ve learned from Hamilton, did you know he thought senators should hold their position for a lifetime? That would have definitely changed some things if it went his way with lifelong terms. The final compromise was six years between the creators of the Constitution.
Some of these facts you won’t find in your traditional history books. There is so much history and so many interesting facts that make our US Capitol tick. Next time you visit the nation’s Capitol, see what fun facts you can find out for yourself.