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Rosa Parks Exhibition & Library of Congress Guided Tour - CANCELLED
Library of Congress Announces Limited Access to Facilities until April 1
Out of an abundance of caution, all Library of Congress buildings and facilities will be closed to the public starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12, until Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 8 a.m. to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 coronavirus.
Due to the temporary closure of the Library of Congress we’re rescheduling this event for Saturday, April 11.
If you are interested in joining us on this new, tentative date then you’re all set; no further action is required on your part. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
If you’re not able to join us on April 11 then we’re happy to provide a full refund.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Join us for a two-part educational and entertaining program. We’ll start with a guided tour of the new exhibit “Rosa Parks: In her Own Words” to learn about the “mother of the civil rights movement” and her monumental impact on our nation’s history. Then we’ll take an architectural and historical tour of the Library of Congress, “one of the most beautiful buildings in Washington, DC.”
“Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words” Guided Tour
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) is best known for her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a crowded bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement that ultimately led to the dismantling of Jim Crow segregation. Rosa Parks became an icon of the movement, celebrated for this single courageous act of civil disobedience, but she is often characterized by misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief, Parks was not a demure seamstress who chose not to stand because she was physically tired. Her calm demeanor hid a militant spirit forged over decades.
The real Rosa Parks was a seasoned activist who organized to free the Scottsboro Boys in the 1930s and helped operate the offices of the NAACP and Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in Montgomery during the 1940s and 1950s. She was punished for the bus incident with death threats, unemployment, and dire poverty, yet was sustained through years of hardship by her strong Christian faith. Parks remained committed to the struggle for social justice and human rights until her death, inspiring millions of people around the world.
Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words showcases rarely seen materials that offer an intimate view of Rosa Parks and documents her life and activism—creating a rich opportunity for viewers to discover new dimensions to their understanding of this seminal figure. The materials are drawn extensively from the Rosa Parks Collection, a gift to the Library of Congress from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Library of Congress Exhibition Link:
FYI, before or after our program you might enjoy:
The Rosa Parks Story (Starring Angela Bassett)
Arrest Scene:
Full Film:
FYI, before or after our program you might enjoy:
Rosa Parks: My Story (Autobiography)
Amazon:
The Library of Congress - Architecture & Historical Guided Tour
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. The library is housed in three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The library's functions are overseen by the librarian of Congress, and its buildings are maintained by the architect of the Capitol. The Library of Congress is the second largest library in the world. Its "collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include research materials from all parts of the world and in more than 450 languages."
Congress moved to Washington, D.C., in 1800 after sitting for 11 years in the temporary national capitals in New York City and Philadelphia. The small Congressional Library was housed in the United States Capitol for most of the 19th century until the early 1890s. Most of the original collection had been destroyed by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812, and the library sought to restore its collection in 1815. They bought Thomas Jefferson's entire personal collection of 6,487 books. After a period of slow growth, another fire struck the library in its Capitol chambers in 1851, again destroying a large amount of the collection, including many of Jefferson's books. After the American Civil War, the Library of Congress grew rapidly in both size and importance, which sparked a campaign to purchase replacement copies for volumes that had been burned. The library received the right of transference of all copyrighted works to deposit two copies of books, maps, illustrations, and diagrams printed in the United States. It also began to build its collections, and its development culminated between 1888 and 1894 with the construction of a separate, extensive library building across the street from the Capitol.
Registration: As this is a limited space event (and to reduce “no shows”) there is a $10.00 per person registration-in-advance fee / donation to attend, with proceeds supporting our Washington, DC History & Culture non-profit community programs. Full refund if the event is cancelled or if you change your RSVP to “no” at least 48 hours beforehand. You do not need to bring your ticket/confirmation with you. Upon arrival we’ll just check your name off our RSVP list.
Weather: This program is indoors and will thus take place rain or shine.
Meeting Point: 9:15 am sharp inside of the Library of Congress - Jefferson Building (10 First St SE - between East Capitol and Independence Ave.) at the Gutenberg Bible, which is on the first floor (Great Hall). The Library of Congress opens at 8:30 am on Saturday. We strongly suggest arriving on-site at least 20 minutes early, if not earlier, so that you have time to pass through security, use the restroom, etc. We appreciate you joining us early so that we can tour the Rosa Parks exhibit before it becomes crowded later in the day. Look for a group of friendly people and your host, wearing a cream-colored scarf. Please be on time. However, if you arrive late, we’ll be on the first floor (Great Hall) of the Jefferson Building for several minutes before proceeding upstairs to the second floor (Mezzanine & Rosa Parks exhibit).
Metro & Parking: We recommend taking the metro and closest metro station is Capitol South, 2 blocks away. There is street parking but many Saturday spaces expire in 2 hours so you may need to renew your parking while inside the library. There are several parking garages in the vicinity but they will be more expensive than the meters.
Additional Questions: Anything that can’t be answered by the above event description, Google, or common sense please let us know.
This program is presented by the non-profit community organization Washington, DC History & Culture:
“bringing people together to experience the history and culture of Washington, DC.”
For more entertaining and educational programs visit us at:
#DCHistoryAndCulture
We look forward to seeing you - thanks!
Robert Kelleman
Washington, DC History & Culture
202-821-6325 (text only)
