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.
https://www.loc.gov/about/pandemic-information/for-public/

Due to the temporary closure of the Library of Congress we’re rescheduling this event for Saturday, April 11.

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:
https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/rosa-parks-in-her-own-words/about-this-exhibition/

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 to the exhibit.