National Building Museum day one
Lecture by Civil War Historian Harold Holzer at the
National Building Museum followed by cocktails and dinner
Our first night together will be spent in the spectacular National Building Museum – originally built between 1882 and 1887 by Montgomery Meigs as the Pension Building for Civil War veterans. Starting with President Grover Cleveland’s inaugural ball in 1885, it has since played host to all military presidential inaugural balls. This remarkable structure is where Civil War veterans came to collect their pensions, and its exterior features a magnificent frieze dedicated to those soldiers (pictured across the top of this page). The museum closes to the public at 5:00 PM, giving us private access for an incredible night of enlightenment and celebration. We’ll also receive uncommon insights into the history and present-day use of the building, which officially became the National Building Museum in 1997. In addition to its collections of objects and drawings from noted
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architects, the National Building Museum is renowned as a forum for the development, exploration, and exchange of ideas... making it the perfect venue to hear noted Civil War historian and Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer speak. One of the country’s leading authorities on Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era, and chairman of The Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation, Mr. Holzer is the author, co-author or editor of 40+ books. A 2008 recipient of the National Humanities Medal, he is Senior Vice President for External Affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Following the Holzer presentation, we will adjourn to a welcome reception in the stunning Great Hall, with its eight massive 75-foot Corinthian columns, where we’ll also enjoy a seated welcome dinner and be entertained by the Victorian Dance Ensemble, featuring dancers in costumes of the Civil War era.
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