Pennsylvania Senate Library, 157 Pennsylvania Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA (2022)

01/07/2022

The Capitol of PA moved to Harrisburg in 1822, after previously being in Lancaster and Philadelphia. Here's the first Capitol, built by Stephen Hills from 1816-1821. Learn about the history of the moves and the building at our temporary exhibit, Making a Masterpiece.

01/06/2022

Mercer's famed mosaic tiles of the Capitol floor were taken from Pennsylvanian history and his love for early 20th century Americana. He was fascinated with pre-industrial machinery, like hand tools, and was inspired by every day people, like this man paring apples by hand. 🍎 🍎 🍎 Photo from Henry Chapman Mercer and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.

01/05/2022

Happy Birthday to Senator John Gordner ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🎉🎉🎉 #PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

01/04/2022

Today, January 4th, is the beginning of the 2022 Senate Session. With two year Senate Sessions, we're beginning the second, and final, year.

01/02/2022

Happy Birthday to @Senator Doug Mastriano ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🎉🎉🎉 #PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

01/02/2022

#DYK that 200 years ago today, the original PA State Capitol Building in Philadelphia was finished. Briefly, the space was shared by both the federal and state house legislatures, before the PA Capitol moved to Lancaster, then Harrisburg. Today it is known as Independence Hall.

12/31/2021

Happy New Year! The Senate Library is closed today through January 3, 2022. We'll reopen on Tuesday, January 4, at 9am! Free and open to the public, every weekday.

12/29/2021

Today is "National Still Need To Do" Day. If you haven’t checked out our newest exhibit: Making A Masterpiece than you still need to! Learn how Joseph Huston transformed the former Capitol, below, into the masterpiece it is today.

12/27/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Nikil Saval ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🎉🎉🎉 #PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/24/2021

12/22/2021

Today is the last palindrome day of the year. A palindrome is when a number or word, like today's date, is the same, frontwards and backwards!

12/21/2021

It's #TravelTuesdayPA ! Plan a visit to see the Making a Masterpiece temporary exhibit, featuring internationally known and PA Capitol artists like Violet Oakley. Image from American Archives of Art

12/20/2021

As the last day of 2021's Senate Session closed last week, the Senate Library is busy updating our collections and getting ready for opening day of the 2022 Senate Session, which begins the Tuesday of the new year, January 4, 2022.

12/16/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Ryan P. Aument ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/15/2021

Did you know Henry Chapman Mercer created a series of mosaic images for the Pennsylvania State Capitol floor? The over four hundred tile floor is the largest single collection of Mercer's tiles. Pictured is one version of his tile, "Indian Making Fire" in our current exhibit #MakingAMasterpiece

12/14/2021

#OTD December 14 in 1790, Timothy Matlack was appointed the first Clerk of the Senate. Matlack also served as a delegate to the 2nd Continental Congress as well as owning a brewery. Cheers to you, Timothy Matlack!

12/13/2021

HAPPY 385 BIRTHDAY to the US Army National Guard, founded #OTD in 1636. #InspiredUncoveredHonored

12/10/2021

Much like the Capitol Christmas tree, our newest display #MakingAMasterpiece is open for visitors 🎄🎄🎄

12/09/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Amanda Cappelletti ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/08/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Pat Browne ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/06/2021

How it started... how it's going: The Senate Library has kept most of its original structure the same, but we've made some improvements. Come visit the Senate Library, open to the public Monday through Friday

12/04/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/04/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Camera Bartolotta ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/03/2021

We recently welcomed Amy Hammond, Art Curator from State Museum of Pennsylvania for the unveiling of #MakingaMasterpiece
Learn more about our exhibit at https://www.library.pasen.gov/Exhibitions/Making-a-Masterpiece.cfm

12/02/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

12/01/2021

#OTD in history, Rosa Parks' arrest sparked a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision banning segregation on public transportation. Photo from US Dept of State #RosaParksDay

11/30/2021

November is National Gratitude Month. The Senate Library wants to say a special thank you to everyone who has visited our historic space over the years!

11/25/2021

The Pennsylvania Senate Library would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Pictured is of one the famous Mercer tiles located in the Main Capitol Building. Mercer is highlighted in our newest exhibit #MakingaMasterpiece #thanksgiving

11/24/2021

#OTD in 1906, Violet Oakley, PA Senate Chamber muralist and Philadelphian artist, finishes and installs her paintings in the Governor’s Reception Room in the State Capitol Building

11/23/2021

Henry Chapman Mercer, tile artist for the Capitol floor, was a man of many talents: archeologist, lawyer, curator, and author. #DYK he also wrote a book of horror stories called November Night Tales?

11/22/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator Tim Kearney ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

11/21/2021

Happy Birthday to Senator David G. Argall ! Enjoy your day Senator! 🥳 🎉🎉🎉#PASenateBirthday #PASenateBirthdayShoutout

11/18/2021

#TBT #DYK Before emails, the Senate of Pennsylvania and the Senate Library relied on the telegraph system for communication purposes? Remnants of our old ways are still found all over the historic Senate Library.