Meetings & Tours - The Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

CWRTDC'S NEXT MEETING

VIA ZOOM ONLY

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US!

"A Civil War Road Trip of a Lifetime:

Antietam, Gettysburg and Beyond" 

presentation by

JOHN BANKS

and with a "Show & Tell" by

Lisa Samia

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

6:00 pm ET

About the Topic:

Over more than a year, John Banks crisscrossed the country, exploring battlefields, historic houses, forts, and more. He rode on the back of an ATV with his “psychotic connection” in Mississippi, went under the spell of an amateur hypnotist at a U.S. Army fort in Tennessee, admired a sunset from the grounds of the notorious Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, prayed during a tense boat ride in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, and briefly interviewed Louie the wild boar in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. 

Join Mr. Banks on a road trip like no other. He plans on discussing interesting bits from his book, "A Civil War Road Trip of a Lifetime: Antietam, Gettysburg and Beyond." (Gettysburg Publishing, 2023).

About the Speaker:

John Banks has enjoyed several distinguished careers — from small-town newspaper reporter to senior editor at The Dallas Morning News and ESPN, and most recently as a contributor to Civil War Monitor magazine. Raised in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he eventually drifted south along life’s rivers to study journalism at West Virginia University. 

Mr. Banks has built a devoted following for his Civil War blog (https://john-banks.blogspot.com/), which highlights the deep thinkers, odd characters, and overlooked voices that populate Civil War history. He continues to carry the torch in search of the wise, the peculiar, the hilarious, and the insightful stories that keep so many of us passionate about the Civil War. 

In doing so, he carries on the great tradition of wandering battlefields and interpreting their significance — a lineage that stretches from Twain to Bearss to Horwitz.

Sources:

Mr. Banks and Amazon.com 

JOIN US VIA ZOOM

Schedule for Zoom/Remote Attendees:

6:00 pm ET: Zoom Platform Opens for Remote Social Period (Optional)

6:30 pm ET: Start of Meeting/Introductions

6:45 pm ET: Start of Mini-Presentation Hosted by John Anderson

7:00 pm ET: Start of Speaker Presentation and Q&A

8:30 pm ET: Meeting Adjourned

Any questions or problems, contact paul.mazzuca@gmail.com    

The Internet Zoom Meeting URL to use 

on your PC, mobile phone. or other device is: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83412709960?pwd=Om8aL5ta4RZEwFgw3dgxAwXa3xSXQA.1

Or type https://zoom.us/join into your browser to link to Zoom's "Join A Meeting" page

 and use the Meeting ID and passcode shown below:

Zoom Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960

Zoom Passcode: Zoom1861

Or use you mobile phone or landline phone to dial in 

by your location:

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Phone Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960

Phone Passcode: 81302104

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdSroe6qvY

For a cheat sheet on how to use Zoom's control features click HERE 

___________________________________________________

MAKE RESERVATIONS HERE FOR THE UPCOMING JOINT MEETING OF THE CWRTDC AND LGDC WITH NATAHAN RICHARDSON ON FEB. 10, 2026. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

FOR RICHARDSON MEETING, USE THIS PULLDOWN MENU AND FILL FIELDS

In-Person Reservation for 1: $20.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservations for 2: $40.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservations for 3: $60.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservation for 1: $10.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservations for 2: $20.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservation for 1 and CWRTDC Dues: $50.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservation for 1 and CWRTDC Dues: $40.00 USD                                   Admin Test: $1.00 USD

Identify your organization

CWRTDC member/guest                                   LGDC member/guest                                   Not a member of either organization

For each in-person attendee, first & last name:

For each Zoom attendee, name you will display online:

UPCOMING JOINT MEETING

IN-PERSON AT "THE SQUARE" AND VIA ZOOM

 

 The CWRTDC and LGDC are delighted to again jointly host an in-person/hybrid meeting to celebrate Lincoln's birthday week with the following activities scheduled for a meeting to be held the evening of Tuesday, February 10, 2026: 

• An extended social period in the newly renovated "The Square;"
• A presentation by renowned historian and author Nathan Richardson about Douglass;
• A celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the CWRTDC;
• An expanded book raffle that practically guarantees you will be a winner!

 

 A COPY OF THE PROGRAM FOR THE MEETING

WILL BE AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE 

NATHAN RICHARDSON

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 

Mr. Richardson wil discuss

"How Douglass and Lincoln 

Viewed the Founding"

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

5:00 pm ET

No-Host Food Court and Bar at "The Square"

1850 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006

Program begins at 6:30 pm ET

 About the Event:

The Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia (LGDC) are teaming up again to mark President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday with a special program on the evening of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, featuring a presentation by Frederick Douglass biographer and re-enactor Nathan Richardson and a look back at CWRTDC's 75-year history. 

The meeting will be held in Tishman Speyer's, Class A building: the Conference Center at International Square, 1850 K Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C., nicknamed “The Square” that is below a fabulously renovated gourmet food court and bar area. The Square is located at the corner of 18th and I and is easily accessible from four Metro lines (Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver) and has underground or nearby parking.  This venue will be something new for both groups’ members, and it will give everyone a chance to socialize, eat and drink what they choose, and then move to the conference center for what we know will be an enjoyable program. 

The event will start at 5 p.m., when members can gather in the food /bar area of the food court, which is in The Square’s spacious lobby atrium. We’ll then go downstairs to the conference center at around 6:15 p.m. ET for our program and discussion.  We plan to wrap up by 8:30 p.m. ET. 

Our costs involve the rental of the conference space (at a discount thanks to the CWRTDC) and the hiring of a professional videographer to help ensure the Zoom offering for members and guests around the country (and world) is flawless from our end. To recover those costs, we will be charging $20 per person to attend the program in person and $10 to watch via Zoom, including existing members of either the CWRTDC or LGDC. In-person attendees are responsible for the cost of their own food and drink. 

Information about The Square’s food court is available at https://www.dcthesquare.com/.  It offers a wide variety of delicious gourmet tastes from around the globe. 

About the Speaker and Topic:

Mr. Richardson is a published author, performance poet, and Frederick Douglass historian. He is in his 10th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour – a living history performance that captures the physical, spiritual, and intellectual essence of the former enslaved person, writer, orator and abolitionist.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Mr. Richardson will address how Douglass and Lincoln viewed the Founding.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW:

As noted above, to cover our venue and videographer costs, we must charge $20 per person to attend the program in person and $10 to watch via Zoom, even if you are an existing member to either group. We also encourage you to become a member of either our organizations, or both!

To make a reservation, please use the module available on the right of our website page at https://cwrtdc-meetings.blogspot.com/ or click HERE (https://cwrtdc-meetings.blogspot.com/2025/12/cwrtdc-lgdc-joint-meeting-2-10-26.html).  BUT SPACE IS LIMITED FOR BOTH IN-PERSON AND ZOOM ATTENDANCE, SO PLEASE MAKE A RESERVATION BY FEBRUARY 21 TO ENSURE WE HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU.  And please indicate your group affiliation, the full name of each in-person attendee (for the roster the security folks need to grant you access to the conference center), or the name you will use to attend via Zoom so that we can admit you to the Zoom meeting.   Because of the Security/access requirements, there can be no same-day registration.

 Also, cancellations after February 1 are non-refundable, as we must pay for the venue and videographer regardless of the actual attendance. If you cannot come after all, please consider your registration fee as a donation. Thank you.

If you have any problems making reservations online or would like to know about alternatives to making reservations or payments online, please email admin@cwrtdc.org

FOR RICHARDSON MEETING, USE THIS PULLDOWN MENU AND FILL FIELDS

In-Person Reservation for 1: $20.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservations for 2: $40.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservations for 3: $60.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservation for 1: $10.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservations for 2: $20.00 USD                                   In-Person Reservation for 1 and CWRTDC Dues: $50.00 USD                                   Zoom-Only Reservation for 1 and CWRTDC Dues: $40.00 USD                                   Admin Test: $1.00 USD

Identify your organization

CWRTDC member/guest                                   LGDC member/guest                                   Not a member of either organization

For each in-person attendee, first & last name:

For each Zoom attendee, name you will display online:

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

 

Schedule for In-Person Attendees:

5:00 pm ET: Dinner and Social Period at "The Square" (Optional)

6:30 pm ET: Start of Meeting, Speaker Presentation, and Q&A

8:30 pm ET: Adjourn

Schedule for Zoom/Remote Attendees:

6:00 pm ET: Zoom Platform Opens for Remote Social Period (Optional)

6:30 pm ET: Start of Meeting, Speaker Presentation, and Q&A

8:30 pm ET: Adjourn

Any questions or problems, contact paul.mazzuca@gmail.com

As noted above, to cover our costs, we must charge $10 per person to watch via Zoom. And when you register, don't forget to indicate the name you will use to attend via Zoom so that we can grant you access. 

Zoom Meeting URL: 

[TBD ]

Or point your browser to the link below and use the Meeting ID and passcode shown:

Zoom "Join A Meeting" Page: https://zoom.us/join

Phone Meeting ID: TBD
Phone Passcode:  TBD

One tap mobile: 

TBD  +1_______# US (Washington DC)

TBD  +1________# US

Or dial in by your location:

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcZG7EOkvV

For a cheat sheet on how to use Zoom's control features click HERE

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOINT MEETING

THE SQUARE

The meeting will be held in the Tishman Speyer, Class A building, Conference Center located at International Square, 1875 Eye Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C., nicknamed “The Square.” The Conference Center is a floor below a fabulously renovated gourmet food court and bar area. 

The event will start at 5 pm ET, when members gather in the food/bar area, which is in The Square’s spacious lobby atrium.  We’ll then go downstairs to the conference center at around 6:15 p.m. ET for our program and discussion.  We plan to wrap up by 8:30 p.m. ET. 

Location and Access:

The Square is accessible from two entrances near 18th and Eye Streets (with another entrance at 1850 K Street) and is within steps of four Metro lines (the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines at Farragut West (use the 18th & Eye exit), and the Red line at Farragut North (use the 17th and K exit)). If you are driving, entrances to parking (open to us) under The Square are located on the 18th Street and K Street sides.

Be sure to pick up your name tag (from a CWRTDC Director in the food/bar area or near the entrance to the conference center). You will need a name tag (or be listed on the security staff's roster) to gain access to the conference room area.

Food/Drinks: 

This venue is something new for both groups’ members, and it should give everyone a chance to socialize, eat and drink what they choose, and then move to the conference center for what we know will be an enjoyable program. 

For information about food and drink options, visit https://www.dcthesquare.com/, but I recommend Cafe Teresa for dinner, Brasa for a char-broiled burger or veggies, Flora for Pizza, Taqueria Xochi for tacos, Junges for ice cream or churros, or Above Board Bar for drinks. 

CWRTDC's 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia is turning 75 years young in 2026, quite an accomplishment for a small non-profit. To mark the anniversary, the CWRTDC will include vignettes from its long, notable history in its monthly programs. For more information, visit _________

SPECIAL RAFFLE/GIVEAWAY

If you did not get that Civil War history book you wanted this holiday season, this is your chance to make up for lost time. We will be holding a raffle at the meeting for in-person attendees only (hopefully like the ones our raffle host extraordinaire Gordon Berg used to run).  A $5.00 raffle ticket may win you not just one book, but also a second book (while supplies last)!  The collection of books Gordon has brought to our past meetings has been expansive, and at this meeting we plan on bringing Lincoln-related books, some that are signed by their authors. Come early to socialize and check out the selection!  The money collected supports our speaker program!