Park Ranger Speaker Series

The Interior Library is proud to present a series of programs on the background and history of sites of interest in the Washington, D.C. region and around the country. Programs highlighting the history of the United States are also offered. The one-hour programs, presented by National Park Service Rangers, are presented virtually via webinar.

To register for a future Park Ranger Speaker Series program, please use our Park Ranger Speaker Series registration form. If the registration form does not work at your location, you may use the Library's contact form. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Interior Library by e-mail at library@ios.doi.gov or by phone at (202) 208-5815.

Webinar recordings of recently completed Park Ranger Speaker Series programs are available upon request. Please contact the Interior Library by phone at (202) 208-5815, e-mail at library@ios.doi.gov or via the Library's comment form for more information.
 

Upcoming Programs


Politics on the Doorstep: James Garfield's 1880 Front Porch Presidential Campaign
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

“Politics on the Doorstep” traces the development and evolution of a campaign technique that was not consciously planned, did not begin until the last month of the 1880 campaign season, and was the model for future presidential candidacies. Welcoming groups of businessmen, students, Civil War veterans, and ordinary citizens, Republican presidential nominee James Garfield departed from the tradition of a candidate staying "above the fray" and initiated candidate/voters interactions which we have been familiar with ever since. Please join Park Ranger Alan Gephardt for a look at a campaign that, unlike any before it, brought citizens and candidate face-to-face.

Please note: This program is only being offered as a simultaneous online webinar. Please contact the Library to obtain webinar information for this program.
 

The Road to Pearl Harbor: U.S.-Japanese Relations Between the Wars
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy launched a surprise air attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, HI, drawing the United States into World War II. The roots of the Pearl Harbor attack reach back to Japan’s Meiji Restoration (1868–1912), which marked the rise of the Empire of Japan as a growing world power. After World War I, shifting political and economic conditions strained relations between Japan and the United States. Over time, the two nations’ friendship eroded, gradually giving way to the tensions that led to war. Please join Park Ranger Paul O’Brian to explore the key causes and events that shaped U.S.–Japanese relations and ultimately led to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Please note: This program is only being offered as a simultaneous online webinar. Please contact the Library to obtain webinar information for this program.
 

One Step Further: The Battle of Bunker Hill
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Join Boston National Historical Park Ranger Patrick Boyce for a dynamic exploration of one of the most consequential—and most mythologized—engagements in American history: the Battle of Bunker Hill. In just two fierce hours of fighting on the heights of Charlestown, the trajectory of the Revolutionary War changed forever. Discover how Boston’s dramatic geography, the bold decisions of key leaders, and the realities of 18th‑century military strategy converged on what Abigail Adams called “the Decisive Day”—a moment she believed would shape the fate of the new nation.

Please note: This program is only being offered as a simultaneous online webinar. Please contact the Library to obtain webinar information for this program.

 

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