Urban Legends of the Capitol - The Whispering Hall

Most visitors to the Capitol expect to be wowed by the magnitude and grandeur of the Capitol, overwhelmed by the weight of layer upon layer of history, and awed by the absolute power that flows through these halls. But a little touch of whimsy is often the most unforgettable part of a Capitol tour.

As visitors are taken to National Statuary Hall (former home of Kamehameha), they will be taken to small brass plates on the ground, showing the former seat locations of Presidents that have served as Representatives (Statuary Hall haven begun it's life as the House of Representatives). After taking a quick look at the spot where lackluster President but towering Representative John Quincy Adams suffered a fatal stroke at his desk, they may even be told a story that Adams used to pretend to be dozing while surreptitiously listening in to political rivals via a quirky little audio trick. The guide will then stroll across the room (assuming the crowds aren't too heavy) and whisper into the floor, allowing your group to listen in to what he's saying, dozens of feet away. Eyes go wide, and imaginations run wild at the idea of clever old fox John Quincy Adams befuddling proponents of slavery.

This has been a traditional stop in the Capitol tour pretty much since we've had Capitol tours. Popular Science ran an article in 1936 explaining the scientific phenomenon behind it (reflection of sound waves on a parabolic ceiling, etc.) and mentioned that "Guides have long pointed out to tourists" the spot. Quite briefly, to oversimplify, sound waves can be focused by a parabolic ceiling, causing the whispering effect. Of course, it's hardly unique to DC; New York has a similar tourist site in Grand Central Terminal and London in St. Paul's Cathedral.

However, as cool as this is (and it is), it's probably unlikely that John Quincy Adams benefited much from it. First off, poor acoustics plagued the House Chamber since its construction and the reverberating echos were well known by the time Adams was elected to the House, making it hard to fool anyone. Consequently, draperies were hung to muffle the noise and the space was covered in carpets, which would were meant to reduce the effect. Not that I object to the inclusion of this on the Capitol tour. It's a cool little tidbit, and if it may not have been a part of John Quincy Adams's history, it is now part of the Capitol Building's.

And, of course, DC locals know that the real work of Congress doesn't happen on the floor, but rather behind the scenes, a fact that has hardly changed in the last two hundred years.