House Office Buildings Postcard, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives
An old postcard depicts the view up New Jersey Avenue, which runs between the Longworth Building (on the left) and the Cannon Building.
On this date, the House Office Buildings were named to honor three famous Speakers of the House:
Joseph Cannon of Illinois,
Nicholas Longworth of Ohio, and
Sam Rayburn of Texas. Prior to the designation, the Cannon Building (opened in 1908) was known as the Old House Office Building while the Longworth Building (opened in 1933) was known as the New House Office Building. President and former House Member
John F. Kennedy signed the measure into law on May 22 and laid the cornerstone for the third such building, the Rayburn House Office Building, on May 24; the Rayburn Building opened for occupation in 1965. Before the construction of the House Office Buildings, Members worked at their desks on the House Floor or in their boarding houses.
