THE U. S. CAPITOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESENTS
FALL BOOK SIGNINGS AND AUTHOR’S TALKS
Join the U.S. Capitol Historical Society this fall
for a series of book signings featuring prominent historians.

Fortress of Finance: The United States Treasury Building
by Pamela Scott
Thursday, October 21, 2010
12:00 PM-1:00 PM

Commercial Providence:  The Secret Destiny of the American Empire
by Patrick Mendis
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
12:00 PM-1:00 PM 

Birthstone of the White House and Capitol
by Jane Conner
Thursday, November 4, 2010
12:00 PM-1:00 PM

This book signing event coincides with the grand opening of Stafford County’s newest Scenic Heritage Park and Trail on Government Island, on Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the historic Aquia Church located at 2938 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, VA 22554. 

Government Island, an early American quarry site, was purchased by the federal government in 1791.  The Aquia Sandstone from the quarry was used for the early construction of the White House and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Under the Board of Supervisors leadership, staff has worked with local historians to highlight the beauty and history of the site by building walkways, placing descriptive signage and restoring the quarry site to its natural beauty. Government Island is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Local historian Jane Conner’s historical narrative of Government Island is revealed in her book Birthstone of the White House and Capitol, which traces the historic significance of the quarry site and the use of the Aquia sandstone.
 

An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle over Equality in Washington, D.C.
by Kate Masur
Thursday, November 18, 2010
12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Masur’s panoramic account considers grassroots struggles, city politics, Congress, and the presidency, revealing the District of Columbia as a unique battleground in the American struggle over equality.
 

All events will take place at
Ketchum Hall, Veterans of Foreign Wars building
200 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC  20002
                                                                                                                               
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Pre-register by emailing uschs@uschs.org or call (202) 543-8919, ext. 38.