<P> National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the United States Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans . The hall , also known as the Old Hall of the House , is a large , two - story , semicircular room with a second story gallery along the curved perimeter . It is located immediately south of the Rotunda . The meeting place of the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 50 years ( 1807 -- 1857 ) , it is now the main exhibition space for the National Statuary Hall Collection . </P>
why is the room south of the rotunda called statuary hall
devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans