On 1 April 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives celebrates 220 years of deliberation in service of the people of the United States. The “People’s House” first had a quorum for business on Wednesday, 1 April 1789 in Federal Hall in New York. The quorum was reached with the arrival of Representatives James Schureman of New Jersey and Thomas Scott of Pennsylvania. As its first order of business, the House elected Representative Frederick Muhlenberg as the first Speaker of the House followed by the selection of Mr. John Beckley as the first Clerk of the House.

Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives

Since that day, over 12,000 Representatives have served in the House of Representatives. After the Second Session of the First Congress, the House moved to Philadelphia and in 1800 the House finally moved to Washington D.C.

Federal Hall in New York City, the first meeting place of the House of Representatives