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Up To Date

The U.S. Capitol & The Coming Of The Civil War

The construction of the U.S. Capitol began with a building plan adopted in 1793.  Its history of being built, burnt, rebuilt & extended meant its completion came at the most crucial point in our nation’s development: the Civil War.

Thursday in the first portion of Up to Date, journalist Guy Gugliotta discusses the stories behind this magnificent structure.  We’ll look at the personalities and conflicts that arose as the Capitol grew to dominate Washington’s skyline against the backdrop of battles over slavery and secession that were tearing the country apart.

Gugliotta is author of a new book titled Freedom's Cap: The United States Capitol and the Coming of the Civil War.

HEAR MORE: Guy Gugliotta discusses Freedom's Cap this evening at 6:30 at the Kansas City Library Central branch, 14 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Mo. A 6 p.m. reception preceds the event. RSVP onlineor call 816 701 3407. Free parking is available at the Library District Parking Garage at 10th & Baltimore.

Writing for such publications as the Washington Post, the New York Times, National Geographic, Wired, Discover, and Smithsonian, Guy Gugliotta has been a foreign correspondent in Latin America, a congressional reporter, and a freelance science writer. He is also the author of Kings of Cocaine.

Stephen Steigman is director of Classical KC. You can email him at <a href="mailto:Stephen.Steigman@classicalkc.org">Stephen.Steigman@classicalkc.org</a>.
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.