Since Fall 2020 the Visitor Assistants and Visitor Guides at the United States Capitol have presented daily Capitol Conversations. What started out as short programs providing audiences a virtual look inside the Capitol while it was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, has evolved into live, interactive, and detailed virtual discussions covering a wide range of United States Capitol history.
One of the Visitor Guides, Gangplank’s very own, Joe Wasiak, presented on several occasions. During Women’s History Month, he discussed the selection of two Native American Statues, Sakakawea and Sarah Winnemucca, representing their states in The National Statuary Hall Collection. When the team focused on the Capitol grounds, Joe talked about how his encounter with the Garfield Monument inspired him to learn about the life of James Garfield as depicted in the monument: Scholar, Soldier, Statesman, and Chief Magistrate. His most recent program was a Presidential Jeopardy exploring the lives of Presidents who also served as members of Congress.
We asked which of these programs was his favorite, but Joe could not name just one! He says his colleagues are amazingly talented. A live interview of sculptor Benjamin Victor ranks among his favorites. Victor is the sculptor of the newest statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection, Chief Standing Bear, depicted in the photo. He was most impressed with the Mary McLeod Bethune program when Dr. Johnetta Cole was brought in to shared her remembrances of Bethune. Dr. Cole is the national chair of the National Council of Negro Women, the past president of Spellman College and Bennett College, and former director of the Smithsonian Museum of African Art. Her stories were emotionally captivating.
If you would like to join Joe viewing these Capitol Conversations, check out the upcoming programs at https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/capitol-conversations.