Meeting Locations of Congress and Predecessor Legislatures

In 1987, as part of the Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution, Congress held a joint commemorative meeting in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA—site of the Constitutional Convention. The joint commemorative meeting marked the first time since the U.S. Capitol moved to Washington, DC, in 1800 that Congress convened outside of the District of Columbia.

Since 1774, Congress and its predecessor legislatures—the First Continental Congress, the Second Continental Congress, and Congress under the Articles of Confederation—have convened in nine different cities: Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Lancaster, PA; York, PA; Princeton, NJ; Annapolis, MD; Trenton, NJ; New York, NY; and Washington, DC. Since 1800, Congress has continuously met in Washington, DC, except for two joint commemorative meetings (see "Joint Commemorative Meetings Outside Washington, DC" below). For a full list of congressional meeting locations, see Table 1.

"I congratulate the people of the United States on the assembling of Congress at the permanent seat of their Government; and I congratulate you, gentlemen, on the prospect of a residence not to be changed. Although there is cause to apprehend that accommodations are not now so complete as might be wished, yet there is great reason to believe that this inconvenience will cease with the present session."

– President John Adams, remarks to a joint session of Congress, November 22, 1800

Meeting Locations of Congress

Since 1774, Congress and its predecessor legislatures have met in nine different cities in four states. Since 1800, Congress has met almost exclusively in Washington, DC, at the U.S. Capitol.

First and Second Continental Congresses

Between 1774 and the ratification of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, the First and Second Continental Congresses met in four different locations. Shown in Figure 1, the First Continental Congress met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia between September and October 1774.

The Second Continental Congress began in Philadelphia in May 1775, before moving several times. The meeting locations included Baltimore, MD (Henry Fite's House); the Lancaster, PA, Court House; and the York, PA, Court House. Additionally, the Continental Congress met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA (then called the State House or the Court House) at various times between 1775 and 1781.

Figure 1. Meeting Locations of the First and Second Continental Congresses

Source: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, "Buildings of the Department of State," at https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/buildings.

Congress Under the Articles of Confederation

On March 1, 1781, the last of the required 13 states ratified the Articles of Confederation. Between the ratification of the Articles of Confederation and the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, Congress met in five locations. Those were Philadelphia, PA (State House/Court House); Princeton, NJ (Nassau Hall); Annapolis, MD (State House); Trenton, NJ (French Arms Tavern); and New York, NY (City Hall and Fraunces Tavern). Figure 2 shows four locations where Congress met under the Articles of Confederation.

Figure 2. Select Meeting Locations of Congress Under the Articles of Confederation, 1781-1789

Source: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, "Buildings of the Department of State," at https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/buildings.

Congress Under the Constitution

In 1789, the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Following the ratification, the first Congress met at Federal Hall in New York, NY. Since then, Congress has met in Philadelphia, PA (1790-1800), and Washington, DC (since 1800).

Joint Commemorative Meetings Outside Washington, DC

On two occasions, Congress has held joint commemorative meetings outside of the District of Columbia. Those were

• July 16, 1987—Congress met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, to "honor the bicentennial of the Constitution" and commemorate "the 200^th anniversary of the Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention" (H.Con.Res. 131, 100^th Congress); and
• September 6, 2002—Congress met at Federal Hall in New York, NY, "in remembrance of the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001, and in recognition of the courage and spirit of the City of New York" (H.Con.Res. 448, 107^th Congress; and H.Con.Res. 449, 107^th Congress).

Table 1 lists the meeting locations of Congress and its predecessor legislatures between 1774 and 2023.