Stop 13. Senate Chamber. You are now directly underneath the golden dome you saw from outside the building. The dome itself is actually much larger than the domed ceiling here. It continues upwards for an additional 50 feet when the both in front alone comprised the entire statehouse. This room was the center of the building. It served as the House of Representatives chamber until their current location and the Brigham addition was completed in 1895.

The Senate met in a temporary chamber while the room under the dome was refurbished and moved into this room in 1898. The senators, like the representatives, elect their leader, the Senate president from amongst themselves. They differ, however, in the manner in which votes are taken. The representatives vote electronically, but the Senate being a much smaller body, votes by voice.

The senators are elected to a two year term and represent about 175,000 citizens each. Emblems, symbolizing commerce, agriculture, peace and war are located in the four corners of the ceiling. High above the chamber are the public galleries. Marble busts of state and national figures sit in the wall niches. Several presidents, including Jackson, Monroe and Van Buren, were welcomed here.

It was in this chamber, too, that Angelina Grimm Key made political history when in 1838 she gave a speech advocating the abolition of slavery. She was the first woman to address a United States legislative body. The Senate suite was renovated in 2019 to return it to its original colors while adding a handicapped accessible lift to the chamber. In addition, a quote by abolitionist Frederick Douglass was added to the upper back wall of the chamber reading Peace, justice, liberty and humanity will ultimately prevail.

To learn more about our legislative process, please scan the QR code for Stop nine.