Built as the Philadelphia County Courthouse, Congress Hall was home to the U.S. Congress from 1790-1800, when Philadelphia served as the temporary capital of the United States. Members of the House of Representatives met on the first floor, while the Senators met upstairs.

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton's bill to establish a national bank generated debate on the floor of Congress. Some opponents argued that the Bank was unconstitutional, opening an on-going battle over the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

The fate of the original Senate carpet in unknown. But, this modern reproduction reflects the importance of Classical symbolism in the early republic. Oh, and it's stunning...

Imagine making laws under a new framework of government. Just what was it like to serve in the Congress meeting in Congress Hall from 1790 to 1800?