C-SPAN PRESENTS THE CAPITOL
THURSDAY, JULY 6 - SATURDAY, JULY 8, AT 8 P.M. ET

Three-Part Original TV Series Offers Rare Look Inside the U.S. Capitol C-SPAN launches video podcasting and new online resources to complement holiday week presentation

WASHINGTON (June 12, 2006) - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) are just a few of the headliners in C-SPAN's special holiday week presentation of The Capitol, Thursday, July 6, through Saturday, July 8, at 8 p.m. ET The recently-debuted, three-part series explores the history, art and architecture of this American icon while touring the well-loved public areas of the Capitol and parts of the building rarely seen by the public or aired on television. (see backgrounder)

C-SPAN is introducing new online resources at www.the-capitol.org to enhance the July presentation. They include the launch of the network's first video podcasts, which will be updated weekly. Additional Web features include a virtual tour of the Capitol, a "Watch the Capitol Grow" animation, bonus video segments, 30 hours of interviews and stories from the building's occupants, and an image gallery containing paintings, artwork and maps.

"This is the most extensive look at the history and the art and architecture of the Capitol ever seen on television," said Brian Lamb, CEO of C-SPAN. "The project just made sense for C-SPAN. We've spent 27 years covering events inside this building. Telling the story of the Capitol building helps tell the story of the United States."

Viewers will hear from more than 20 guests, including members of Congress, curators and historians who share their knowledge of the Capitol. Guests include Senate Historian Richard A. Baker, Historian of the House of Representatives Robert V. Remini, Associate Senate Historian Don Ritchie and Architectural Historian of the Capitol Bill Allen.

"Because of C-SPAN's history of covering Capitol Hill, the Senate and House were willing to give us widespread access to the Capitol building," said Mark Farkas, The Capitol's producer. Farkas produced many of the network's major history programs, including American Writers (2001-2), American Presidents (1999), Alexis de Tocqueville: Exploring Democracy in America (1997), and The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1994).

Each part is approximately three hours long and includes taped video segments and studio interviews with historians and viewer phone calls from the series' premiere that aired May 31 - June 2. C-SPAN originally recorded the video in high-definition to capture the beauty of the Capitol and create a high-quality archive. This presentation airs on C-SPAN in standard definition and letterbox format.

Following are highlights from each evening:

Part One:
Thursday, July 6, at 8 p.m. ET
"An American Icon"
Part one explores the history of the Capitol, from the Capitol dome to the rotunda and crypt. C-SPAN cameras travel to the top of the dome for an up-close look at Constantino Brumidi's fresco, the Apotheosis of Washington. Also included are interviews with members of the House and Senate.

Part Two:
Friday, July 7, at 8 p.m. ET
"The U.S. House of Representatives"
Viewers will go inside the House Chamber; Statuary Hall; The Corrine "Lindy" Boggs Congressional Women's Reading Room, site of John Quincy Adams' death in 1848; and the Board of Education Room, also known as House Speaker Sam Rayburn's hideaway office, where Harry Truman first learned he had become President following the death of President Roosevelt.

Interviews with Speaker Hastert (R-IL), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) are featured.

Part Three:
Saturday, July 8, at 8 p.m. ET
"The U.S. Senate"
The old and current Senate Chambers are featured in the final segment. Senator Frist gives viewers a tour of the Majority Leader's suite of offices, situated in the most historical section of the building; and we'll explore the Vice President's Ceremonial Office, where Ulysses S. Grant's Vice President Henry Wilson died in 1875; the Brumidi Corridors; the Old Supreme Court Chamber; and tour the Old Senate Baths, where 19th century senators would soak before entering into the era's great legislative battles.

Interviewed in part three are Senator Byrd, Senator Dodd, Senator Frist, Senator Lott and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who takes viewers inside his Capitol hideaway office.