Park Ranger Speaker Series

The Department of the Interior Library is proud to present a series of programs on the background and history of sites of interest in the Washington, D.C. region. The 45-minute programs, presented by National Park Service Rangers, are held monthly in the training room of the DOI Library.

Additional programs will be posted as they are scheduled. Please check this page regularly for changes or updates.

The Lincoln Memorial
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Dedicated in 1922 to honor the nation’s 16th President, the Lincoln Memorial blends the work of architect Henry Bacon, sculptor Daniel Chester French, artist Jules Guerin, and a host of others. The materials used in this memorial demonstrate a concerted effort to assemble stones from several regions of the Union into a great classical tribute to the Great Emancipator. The proportions of the architectural elements are meant to impress, inspire, and ensure that the simple Lincoln is elevated elegantly to a level commensurate with his historical role and achievements.

Please join Park Ranger Nathan Adams for a peek at the art, architecture, myths, and history of the Lincoln Memorial. Help us celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth with a look at the beloved memorial dedicated in his name.

The Washington Monument
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Celebrating the 125th anniversary of its completion this year, the Washington Monument is the perhaps the most prominent structure in Washington, DC. Standing 555 feet tall and offering views in excess of 30 miles, it was built in honor of our nation’s first president, George Washington. However, despite the general agreement that a monument to Washington needed to be part of the nation’s capital, controversy and financial difficulty surrounded its construction.

Please join Park Ranger Janet Buerger for a look at the Washington Monument, from the early plans for this great memorial through the times of political turmoil and national strife that created intermittent obstacles to its completion.