United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Historical Highlight

August 13, 1868

The funeral of Representative Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania

Individuals Who Have Lain in State or in Honor

Capitol Police Officers/tiles/non-collection/c/capitol_police.xml Image courtesy of U.S. House of Representatives Photography Office A Capitol Police Honor Guard salutes the coffins of Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr. and Detective John M. Gibson.
Since Henry Clay in 1852, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda has been used as a place to pay tribute to the Nation’s most distinguished citizens. Made available for public viewing in the Rotunda, persons who have “lain in state” traditionally have been American statesmen and military leaders, including 11 U.S. Presidents. In 1998, to recognize two Capitol Police officers who died in the line of duty, Congress granted use of the Rotunda for their caskets to “lie in honor.”  For a complete list of individuals who have lain in state or lain in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, see The Architect of the Capitol website.

Individuals Who Have Recently Lain in State in the Capitol Rotunda

Individual OfficeLay in State
Senator John McCain (1936-2018) Representative, SenatorAugust 31, 2018
Senator Daniel K. Inouye (1924-2012)  Representative, SenatorDecember 20, 2012
President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)  Representative, Vice President, PresidentDecember 30, 2006-January 2, 2007 
President Ronald Reagan  President June 9-11, 2004

Individuals Who Have Lain in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda

IndividualOccupation Lay in Honor
Reverend Billy Graham (1918-2018)MinisterFebruary 28-March 1, 2018
Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Civil Rights LeaderOctober 30-31, 2005
Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr. (1940-1998)Capitol Police OfficerJuly 28, 1998
Detective John M. Gibson (1956-1998)Capitol Police Officer July 28, 1998

Oral History Recollections from the Lying-in-State Ceremony for President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)

Part 1

Download
George W. Andrews III, Page, U.S. House of Representatives, and Son of Representatives George and Elizabeth Andrews of Alabama Interview recorded May 21, 2010 Transcript (PDF)

Part 2

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George W. Andrews III, Page, U.S. House of Representatives, and Son of Representatives George and Elizabeth Andrews of Alabama Interview recorded May 21, 2010 Transcript (PDF)

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov