The web site of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives has an interesting new feature: The House History Timeline. A colorful animated history of important events in the governing body’s history, the timeline covers 1789 to the present. It features “some of the significant institutional and legislative milestones important to both House practice and procedure, as well as U.S. history itself.” Users click on a century in the upper left and then scroll through the years by using a slider on the bottom. Individual entries have a date, a brief description of the important event, and are usually accompanied by an image embedded in the timeline. Clicking on one of the scores of images will show it in greater magnification and provide source information. Check it out to learn more of the important, and obscure, facts about House history.

While you’re at the Office of the Clerk’s web site, explore its other history features.  One feature that could be useful for research is the Member Biographical Information section, specifically the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, which has information on both past and present members of Congress. See also the Art and Artifacts section (which has information about House architecture and the role of slaves in the building of the nation’s capital), the House history database, and the Weekly Historical Highlights.

(Hat tip: HNN)

This post first appeared on AHA Today.