Honoring the 100th Anniversary
of the Lincoln Memorial

In-Person and Online!
Free Lunch and Capitol Tour Voucher*

This month marks the 100th Anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial. To honor this momentous occasion, the U.S. Capitol Historical Society will host an in-person and live-streamed event to discuss the legacy of, arguably, our nation’s greatest president. On May 24, our panel of experts will discuss the surprisingly hostile Congressional debate over the construction of the Lincoln Memorial. They will answer: Why was America’s most visited monument almost never built? Why did the Speaker of the House once proclaim, “So long as I live, I’ll never let a memorial to Abraham Lincoln be erected in that God d— swamp”? How did Lincoln's son work to preserve his father's memory? And what role did Congress play in the Memorial becoming hallowed American ground?

*All in-person attendees are guaranteed a free boxed lunch if they register 48 hours in advance or earlier. All in-person attendees will also be granted a free voucher for an outside Capitol tour hosted by the USCHS.
Lincoln Memorial Centennial Event with:

  • Dr. Roger Aden, Ohio University Professor of Communication, Author and Scholar on U.S. Public Memory;
 
  • Brian Keefe, President of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home;

  • Susan Mandel, Editor and Former Freelance Writer, Author of “The Lincoln Conspirator” (Washington Post Magazine);

  • Dr. Chandra Manning, Georgetown University Professor of History, Author and Scholar on Lincoln, Emancipation, and the Civil War;
 
  • Shema Mbyirukira, J.D. University of Texas DC Archer Center Lecturer on the Politics of National Memory

When: Tuesday, May 24, at 12:30 pm ET

Where: Rayburn House Office Building Room 2043; livestream
Lincoln Group of DC Hosts
Centennial Event at Lincoln Memorial

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society wants you to know that on May 22, our friends at the Lincoln Group of DC will host an event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the Centennial of the building’s dedication. Help rededicate this amazing Memorial by celebrating the theme of “Building on Lincoln’s Vision of Unity and Equality.” The program is organized in conjunction with the National Park Service and is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Forum.
Video Available!

American Freedom
and the Press

We continued our series on the U.S. Constitution by examining the 1st Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press. Our featured speaker, Floyd Abrams, has been described as "the most significant 1st Amendment lawyer of our age," after representing the New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case, Judith Miller in the investigation into the CIA leak, and Citizens United in one of the most impactful campaign finance cases ever heard before the Supreme Court.

During our event, we discussed journalism in colonial America and why the Founders believed freedom of the press was important enough to include in the 1st Amendment; Mr. Abrams' distinguished career arguing before the Supreme Court 13 times; and the state of modern media in light of mounting attacks against the industry and in the age of social media.

Finally, we asked for Mr. Abrams' thoughts on the unprecedented leak of the Supreme Court's draft decision to the press.
Member Support
Makes it Possible!
Enjoying our webinars? How about our We the People video series? The Capitol Stories web feature? Our extensive (and growing) collection of online educational resources is made possible thanks to contributions from people who choose to make a gift of financial support. If your circumstances allow, please consider making a membership contribution to the USCHS today.

Thank you!
U.S. Capitol Historical Society | USCHS.org