On March 1, 1954, a group of armed Puerto Rican nationalists fired onto the House Floor from the public galleries wounding five U.S. Representatives. Within a matter of moments, normal House proceedings were thrown into chaos creating a scene etched into the memories of Members, staff, and Pages. Remember this event by exploring oral histories, objects from the House Collection, and historical video footage.
This chronology features eyewitness accounts and newspaper reports from the time of the shooting and from the days that followed.
Follow along as eyewitnesses recall the attack in the House Chamber in 1954 and the aftermath of the violence.
Universal-International News report from March 1, 1954, narrated by Fred Maness, on the shooting in the House Chamber.
This seat back from the House Chamber was hit by a bullet on March 1, 1954.
The House of Representatives can feel like a small bustling city. The work of many people — not just elected Representatives, but also police officers, policy experts, carpenters, and more — has kept this small city in business over the centuries. Here, learn more about the surprising history of who and what keeps the House running.
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