Contact Person: Dina Vaynerman
651.292.3276                                                                                                                                            dvaynerman@landmarkcenter.org
 

"From Fr eedo m's S hadow"
 

St. Paul , MN – Historic Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul is pleased to welcome visiting exhibit From Freedom’s Shadow: African Americans and the United States Capitol from August 20 through September 29. The exhibit will be free and open to the public during building hours.
 
The exhibit will be open during the Republican National Convention and delegates are invited to explore the visiting exhibit as well as the building. An opening reception to welcome the exhibit will be held at August 21, 2008 from 5:30 pm – 7:00pm in Landmark Center ’s Galleria. The public is welcome to attend.                 
 
The role of African Americans in the history of the United States Capitol has scarcely been a topic of discussion on public tours of the Capitol nor is it seen in the vast body of historical literature on the Capitol.  Since 1962 the United States Capitol Historical Society, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, has preserved and promoted the history of the Capitol and Congress by providing educational programs and publications for the general public.  The Society’s newest traveling exhibit, “From Freedom’s Shadow: African Americans and the United States Capitol,” is an effort to increase public awareness of this subject. 
 
“From Freedom’s Shadow” is a survey of the African American experience at the Capitol.  It explores areas such as Benjamin Banneker’s assistance in surveying the Federal City , the enslaved and free blacks who helped to construct the Capitol building, segregation in the Capitol, representation of African Americans in the Capitol’s artwork, and African American Members of Congress who currently represent the interests of every American.  The public may peruse the exhibit online www.uschs.org .
 
The visiting exhibit will be found on the second floor of Landmark Center in the Galleria, the gallery space between the Gallery of Wood Art and TRACES Center for History and Culture.
 
Landmark Center is located in downtown St. Paul at 75 West 5th Street , facing Rice Park , next to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and The Saint Paul Hotel.  For more information call 651.292.3276 or visit www.landmarkcenter.org,
 

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