Senate Chamber Ceiling Star

This three-dimensional five-pointed star is one of the 32 stars that framed the central skylight in the original ceiling over the current Senate Chamber. Thomas U. Walter, architect of the Capitol extension, created the design for the original ceiling in 1855. Made of cast iron, it was fire-resistant and innovative for its time. However, it ultimately proved too heavy and was replaced in 1949.

Like other ornamental cast-iron elements created for the Capitol extension, this star was manufactured by Janes, Beebe & Co. of New York City. Weighing approximately 40 pounds, the star was attached to the ceiling from the three tabs that extend from the rim. The current color scheme, featuring a white star rising from a flat blue field with a white circular rim, aligns with Walter's original design. However, recent paint analysis reveals that the star was originally painted green against a blue field with a brown rim. The star was found in a private collection and purchased by the Senate as a record of the Chamber's original construction.