Visitors have always been a part of the story of the Capitol as the heart of American democracy. “The Wild World of the Gilded Age Capitol Tours” will examine the surprising history of Capitol tourism from the 1870s into the early 20th century and the characters who began some of the most enduring traditions of the Capitol visitor experience. Join us on Tuesday, February 22 at Noon EST as USCHS Fellow Blake Lindsey presents the results of his fascinating research.

Like all USCHS programs, this webinar is free and open to the public.

About the Speaker: Blake Lindsey is a local historian and author whose work has been featured in Washington History and the Midwest Quarterly. His research into the Civil War Defenses of Washington has earned grants and accolades from Virginia Tech and Pittsburg State University, and has influenced recent programming with the National Park Service. Blake was selected by USCHS in June 2020 for the Capitol Fellowship Program to pursue research into the history of tourism at the Capitol, a passion awakened by his own experiences providing interpretation of the building to the public as a Visitor Guide at the United States Capitol Visitor Center. He holds degrees in History from Pittsburgh State University and Clemson University.