In 1819 the Senate moved back into its rebuilt and redesigned chamber on the second floor of the Capitol’s north wing. The chamber was designed by architect Benjamin Latrobe and constructed under the supervision of his successor, Charles Bulfinch. Larger than the chamber that had been destroyed by fire in 1814, the semicircular room was 75 feet long and 55 feet wide and offered seemingly ample space for the Senate's 46 members. Each member had a new desk, built by New York cabinetmaker Thomas Constantine, to serve as his Capitol office. A gallery on the east wall, supported by eight Ionic columns of variegated marble quarried from along the Potomac River, provided space for the press. In 1828, to accommodate growing crowds interested in witnessing Senate debates, a new gallery was installed along the curved western wall. A glass screen separated the vice president's dais from a small lobby where senators could confer with each other, or, in winter months, warm themselves near one of four fireplaces.
The Senate met in this chamber, now known as the Old Senate Chamber, for 40 years, becoming the forum for great national debates over the powers of the federal government, westward expansion, internal improvements, and the institution of slavery. After the Senate moved to its current Chamber in 1859, the Supreme Court met here until 1935, when it moved to its own building across the street. Today, the Old Senate Chamber has been restored to reflect its 1859 appearance. Occasionally used for official Senate business, such as caucus meetings or closed-door sessions, the chamber mostly provides a stately site for ceremonial events such as portrait unveilings and senators reenacting taking the oath of office for photographers.
