The U.S. Capitol has named two rooms after female senators for the first time ever

Former Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., surrounded by senators, jokes about having a lectern her size during the room dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., on June 8. She retired in 2017 after 45 years in Congress. (Susan Walsh/AP)

The U.S. Capitol building has more than 540 rooms, dozens of which are named after distinguished lawmakers from throughout history. But none bore the names of women senators — until last week.

On June 8, a bipartisan group of senators held a ceremony dedicating two of the Capitol's rooms to trailblazing former Sens. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Margaret Chase Smith, R-Maine.