Join us to learn about the dramatic undertaking of the Capitol Dome and the three men most connected with the project: Architect Thomas U. Walter, engineer Montgomery C. Meigs, and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865) the Capitol was a bustling hub of activity. This program will examine the people and events connected to the U.S. Capitol and how they connect to a once-divided country.

Elizabeth M. Reese, author of “Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America’s National Capital Region”, examines how Lafayette’s tour anticipated the nation’s 50th birthday and shaped American identity. 

Over the course of 57 years, Myra Clark Gaines of Louisiana brought 17 different cases before the Supreme Court trying to win her rightful inheritance. Learn more about the extraordinary twists and turns of this long legal battle.

Pierre L'Enfant had a vision for the nation's capital city, but his plans remained unfinished until the 20th century. Learn more about how Senator James McMillan and the Senate Park Commission beautified Washington for a new century.