Dear Participant,
This year, during Constitution Week, September 13-18, the Capitol will be holding a series of very special events and we would like to involve YOU!
The Capitol Preservation Board has enthusiastically endorsed several new programs to be offered September 13 –18, 2010 at the Utah State Capitol. These new programs are during our annual Capitol Discovery Week.
Milestones of Freedom
The Roots of Freedom Foundation, a Utah 501c3 company, will offer their ‘Milestones of Freedom’ program to Utah schools, families and individuals at the Capitol. This unique and exciting program is an immigration simulation in which participants become new immigrants on a quest to become “True Americans.” The event includes a 25-minute orientation, citizenship commitments and a closing experience in which participants take the Oath of Citizenship. (This does not take the place of the actual naturalization process!)
Souvenir passports will be provided to participants free of charge, and those completing the experience will receive a free Constitution booklet donated by the National Center for Constitutional Studies. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Those that pre-register will receive important information and documents necessary for the event. Curriculum, documents, images and videos will be available in the Utah Capitol Bookstore. The experience takes about 75 minutes to complete. Schools will pre-register on the half-hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and families and individuals will pre-register on the half-hours between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Patriotic Concert "Standing for the Constitution-The Contract for Freedom"
On September 17 and 18 at 8:00 p.m. the Capitol Rotunda will be the setting for a special musical celebration of our U.S. Constitution presented by the Constitution Day Committee of Utah, Roots of Freedom, and renowned composer Lex DeAzevedo conducting a combined local choir and orchestra. Commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, this patriotic celebration will feature elected officials addressing the theme "Stand for Our Constitution - The Contract for Freedom."
Exhibit and Founding Fathers
A very exciting and very rare traveling exhibit will also be at the Capitol during these events in which original documents from our nation's founding will be displayed. Originals and reproductions will depict critical events in our nation’s history. Also, meet history face to face as the Colonial Heritage Foundation and Founding Fathers will be there to interact with the crowd.
Capitol Discovery Day
These events are all in addition to our Capitol Discovery Day to be held on September 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in which the public can participate in fun and informative activities about our Utah Capitol.
Capitol Discovery Day offers a variety of hands-on activities, tours, music and presentations to engage everyone in the family. Activities for families to learn about architectural crafts reflecting the skills used to build the Capitol nearly 90 years ago include:
-Dome Construction: Build small geodesic domes with toothpicks and gumdrops.
-Coloring Activity: Color copies of the murals with crayons
-Gold Leafing: Use 6x6 gold leafing squares and paint with wooden cutouts.
-Creating Mosaics: Glue paper squares on construction paper.
-Sculpting Symbols: Beehives, wyverns, eagles, acorn, sego lily
-Stencils: Use Capitol symbols to create wonderful stencils.
-Shake Table Demonstration: See how an earthquake shakes a building while it is protected with base isolators and without base isolators.
-Room Tours: Governor's Ceremonial Office, State Receptions Room, House Chambers, Senate Chambers and Supreme Court
I-Spy Treasure Hunt: Look around the Capitol for amazing art, architecture and artifacts. Receive a small goody-bag of school supplies.
Capitol docents (volunteers) will be on hand to share the history, architecture, and art of one of the most important buildings in Utah. They teach how the recently completed restoration project stayed true to the vision of original architect, Richard Kletting.
We hope as many schools, families and individuals as possible take advantage of these wonderful FREE opportunities!
Sincerely,
Allyson W. Gamble, Executive Director
Capitol Preservation Board