In their time. Because everybody knew there was a Northwest Passage to the pacific ocean. There was a water way to get across this country. And because they failed to find that, they were considered failure. Later on in 1742, two of his sons. Louis and francois traveled further south and further west than they had previously. And on the return trip, they stopped at the con fluns of in missouri river. In this vicinity. And on a bluff over looking what is the present city of fort peer buried a led plate claiming the region for france. That does more than anything set the french control of this particular area. The beauty as it was saved, it could have been melted away and never found it. Here people can actually look at the plate and understand this is the first time in 1743 that we know there were nonindians in the area. And it caused a great deal of kpa excitement in the city at the time. And History Community and people doing further research on what the veredrye brothers were up to. This weekend we are featuring the history of pierre, south dakota. Today with our partners. Learn more about pierre and other stops on our cities tour at cspan. Org cities tour. Youre watching American History tv. All weekend, every weekend. On cspan 3. Next. Play write and actor Linmanuel Miranda accepts the u. S. Capitol Historical Society 2017 Freedom Award. For his work on the musical hamilton. He spoke at the ceremony in the u. S. Capitol. Other speakers were House Democratic leader nancy pelosi. Representative john louis of georgia. And senator murkowski of alaska. This is about 35 minutes. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Members of the senate who are here. Members of the house of representatives and all of you who have come tonight it join with us as we celebrate the awarding Freedom Award to Linmanuel Miranda. Im president and ceo of the u. S. Capitol Historical Society. And a former member of congress from connecticut. We pay tribute to Linmanuel Miranda. And an extraordinarily talented composer, lyricist, play write and actor. As a Historical Society, we usually honor historians. If you recall last year we honored david mccall with our Freedom Award. This year we honor an artist who transformed history into the hit musical hamilton. With a hip hop score, catch chi lir irks and choreography. Americans of all generations and background are learning about hamilton. And aaron burr. And how theyre conflicts visions shared our shaped our young country. 200 years later we grapple with some of the same issues. Thank you Linmanuel Miranda for making history come alive. Through the performing arts. This evening were honored to have the democratic leader with us. And former speaker of the house nancy pelosi. I invite you to the podium to say a few words. [ applause ] thank you. Good afternoon e everyone. Its an honor to be here once again with all of you. It seems like yesterday we were honoring david. Now a whole other generation of people bringing history alive. Thank you, senator. And thank you for your great leadership for this for so many years. And welcome to don karlson the board chair. Thank you for your leadership, don. Thank you very much. Those two are applause lines. Ill tell you when its an applause line. Also murkowski. She will be hearing from you shortly. Here we are. We are in the room where it happens. Or at least where it happened. At that time. This was the house chamber. Early days of our republic. And again, for 55 years the capitol Historical Society has illuminated the Rich Heritage and history of the congress and ideas it upholds. With the Freedom Award we celebrate the inspiring men and women who advance public understanding and appreciation for our great democracy. This years recipient has made a profound contribution to that mission. Linmanuel miranda. Not only that, but his parents are here. Thank you for sharing stand up. Stand up. Congresswoman said that she and mr. Miranda had come from puerto rico at the same time. And attended the same college. Theres a will the of family going on here and members to pay tribute. To your family. As the world knows, Linmanuel Miranda is the great creative talent of our time. With the Tony Award Winning broad way hit. He energyized americas understanding of our own history. And in so doing, he ignited a phenomenon. We are gripped by brilliant writing and captivating music. Seized by the high drama and irresistible optimism and message of hope. Part of the power of hamilton is it remind us that our american story shaped not simply by events, but by people. That our tale is one of revolutionary and disrupture. Visionary kp strivers. Innovators and immigrants. And immigrants. Especially important for us to remember that our constant reinvig ration of america are newcomers to america. Who make america more american. With their hope, optimism and courage. With our journey is not predetermined but wrestled into rae reality by men and women unafraid to dream. Unafraid to dream. Remind us of our dreamers. Linmanuel miranda took the story of our founding and a fresh life and infectious spirit. Continuing the journey of hamilton through the education project which brings together the magic of history. And the arts and the classroom. This Partnership Helps hundreds of thousands of High School Students forge connections it our founding era. And tts making history itself inspiring to the next generation of historian, writers, performers leader. Our continued support for initiative such as this and our broader commitment to education, to the arts, are vital. Linmanuel miranda, i am truly convinced that the arts are what will bring our country together. You have been a force in that regard. Last year as was mentioned. David pointed to the statue the muds of history. Up there. The muse of historiment for two centuries, her clock remipdnded the men and women we are part of history. That our words and actions will face the judgment of history. And that we are part of a long and honorable heritage of democracy. Now under her gauge, we celebrate Linmanuel Miranda. A man gifted by the muse of history. And all others and an artist, historian, for our modern era. Thank you for giving us the story of america then told by america now. Im honored well hear from john louis. Who will present the award. All of us who are here are honored to be in your presence to celebrate your triumph. In hamilton. And congratulate you. Thank you for your passion, your talent, your gifts. Thank you for your exceptional contributions to revile vitalizing and advancing our democracy. Thank you. [ applause ] thank you, madame speaker. A number of members of the house and senate are here. Mixed in with the crowd that is here this evening. Would you please raise your hand so we can acknowledge your presence. Thank you for being here. Leader nancy pelosi mentioned Linmanuel Miranda parents. I want to mention them again. After all they made it all possible. So would they please stand again. Also with us this evening is ron. Who wrote the book hamilton. Where are you . The book oh way back there. The book obviously inspired Linmanuel Miranda. So again thank you for being here with us this morning. And also sarah miller. Who is the director of special projects. Would you please stand . Thank you. ] the thank you. Murray horowitz, would you please stand and be recognized . There we go. Were honored that all of you are here this evening to share this evening with us. Its now my pleasure to introduce is that right lisa murkowski, chair of interior, environment and related agencies. Among the related agencies are the two National Endowments for the arts and humanities. In lisas words, theres nothing that holds us together more as americans as human beings as what comes to us through the arts. The u. S. Capitol Historical Society was honored in 2004 to be awarded the humanities medal with a ceremony in the white house, a very exciting moment for the society and personally for me. So i would like to now bring to the podium, senator lisa murkowski. [ applause ] ron, thank you for that. It is indeed an honor to be with you this evening. To the family, mr. And mrs. Miranda, wonderful to have you with us as we recognize this evening lin manuel miranda. Now there may not be Many Americans who are familiar with the u. S. Capitol Historical Society and the role it plays, an incredibly important role. Because not only does the society preserve the past and honor this truly mifagnificent building and those who have served here through programs like the Freedom Award, but the society helps americans to see the living connections between the past and where we are today. And helps us to understand that this capitol is a symbol of america as a living institution. And thats why choosing to ho R Lin Manuel Miranda is such a beautiful choice. You look around you here. Look where we are standing here in statue airy hall. We see the room adjacent, we have the statues of famous, but longdead americans, like george washington. We have salk ju we yeah and lives who are more contemporary like our own, helen keller, rosa parks right up here. But more importantly, more importantly, each and every day, americans from all walks of life. And every age walk through these halls. They walk through this room. And theyre looking up, and theyre looking at the statues. Theyre looking at the amazing history surrounding us. And you have to believe. You have to believe that each are inspired to learn, to enjoy, but just truly be inspired by the history around us. And i like to listen to the School Groups particularly. Because sometimes you catch these kids giving you just a glimmer of whats beyond all this. And theyll see a particular statue. And theyll be captivated by it and somebody will say, well, do you know and theyll tell a story about rosa parks through the eyes of a child and what they have learned in their classroom, and its a reminder to me that these are not just figures that are anchored in bronze, but there is that living history here and how we share this, how we inspire one another, this is what this award is all about today. FoR Lin Manuel Miranda has inspired americans, young and old, rich and poor, whether youre from new york or ketchikan, alaska. They have inspired, he has inspired us to see kind of the dry dust of our Founding Fathers in a fresh way. In a way that modernizes them and allows us to see ourselves in them. In short, what, what lin manuel has been able to do is to engage new audiences to appreciate our past through a form of art, through Broadway Musical. You know, you have to think, hamill to h hamilton in a Broadway Musical. It forces us to imagine. And at the same time, what he has done is expressed the typical Broadway Musical theatergoer to art formers that th they probably had not thought of before. I think youve introduced history to broadway buffs out there. This is exactly the type of engagement with the American Public i think those of us in congress would really wish that we could connect with. We got a little bit more work to do, and maybe we can talk to you afterwards, lin manuel about how we can be more engaging, but i really am proud to congratulate lin manuel for earning yet another recognition, not just for the strength of his writing and performance, not even for his unique and inspiring ability to bring foundational event to life, but i want to congratulate him for his commitment, to the strength and value of our democracy. For surely no one could write hamilton, bring it to theaters, educate the about the man and his times if he did not love his country and all it can be. So ladies and gentlemen, a man who has helped us look up, look outward as we look at the past, who has widened our eyes, opened our ears. Truly a talented, inspiring individual, the 2017 recipient of the u. S. Capitol historical Freedom Award, mr. Lin manuel miranda, we cant thank you enough. [ applause ] hello my thanks to all of you, especially to senator murkowski, leader pelosi, senator lewis and the society. It tells the story not just of lawmakers and battles but it illuminates political history, yes, but promotes breathtaking art and architecture all around us. I mean, i packed a sleeping bag. When you all leave, im fully, night in the museum here. So ill see you in the morning and tell you about my adventures but this is extraordinary to be surrounded by hthis history. We have the tools to wrestle with our history and to understand that the same disagreements that underpenned the Constitutional Convention and so many other flash points in the american experiment continue to drive what happens in this building now. Jefferson and hamilton are alive in this hall. Theyre in here. This is the room where it happened the room where it happened but for like realsies. Give it up for ron chernow. [ applause ] hamiltons story reached out to me across the centuries and wouldnt let me go on vacation, walking my dog, in the shower. There was the ghost of eliza hamilton. Get back to your piano, tell our story. It turns out, elizas very persistent. You know sometimes you hear a tune from hamilton and it gets stuck in your head . Imagine what i felt like. They were in my head first. And it took seven years to get them out of my head thanks to tommy kale and the team. And the result has changed all of our lives. My life in particular. But before hamilton had a chance to change my life, humanitarikne humanities and arts did. Ill make them stand up a third time, stand up, luis and Louise Miranda you will not meet two bigger the musical theater dorks in your lifetime. And thanks to the constant loop of sound of music, camelot in our subaru growing up, thats why im standing here in front of you today. Theres no doubt without the education i had as a student in the new York City Public School i would not be here. Thank you, Public School if i hadnt been cast as captain hook in the sixth grade play, hamilton would not exist. I learned more than how to play piano and follow stage directions. I learned how to be a leader, how to love collaborating. I nurtured the after the empathy. When youre a theater kid, you make friends from different grades and social groups. You learn to work hashrd. You learn to trust your passion and let it lead the way. Without arts and humanities programs i wouldnt be standing here. Its very probable that very few of us would be here either. Our story includes the hundred the hundreds of thousands of young people who came to this country with their parents and know no other home. Their parents have no documents, but their kids are working in disasters like harvey and irma. Some are even working as lawmakers in the United States congress. Our heritage of humanities and arts is shared and irreplaceable. Young and old, urban and rural, republican and democrat. Statue and still alive. In every corner of our country. This is what the u. S. Capitol Historical Society does. Im a new yorker. My dad came by way of puerto rico. My moms parents are from puerto rico and mexico. And like most big urban centers, new york has a thriving cultural scene, with nonprofits and sponsors to cultivate these relationships. No one would be happier to see them. In places like new york theyre not the sole provinces of the government. But most American Kids dont live in new york or d. C. Or so or seattle. In places like the mississippi delta and vast swaths of the great plains, the private resources do not exist to provide kids with the kinds of programs i was lucky to grow up with. This is why National Endowment for the arts are so vital to our democracy. [ applause ] without these resources, were essentially telling kids without access to the arts your world is small. Dont dream too big. And we dont just fail kids as individuals with that message. We fail our democracy. There are those who argue that the humanities and arts are luxury. I say the opposite is true. The more opportunities they have, the more they will appreciate the mathematical formula and science, the more they learn to be human and what it is to be human, nurturing the gift of empathy makes us better citizens, makes us understand each other better. Learn to read music. A painter who understands chemistry is a better painter. And citizens who have the access make it a better country. That shared economic interest is served completely by the humanities and arts. Most of you in this room see the boom it can bring to your homes and cities. When the hamilton tour comes to your town, all the surrounding businesses benefit. If you dont believe me, ask the pizza place. The National Endowments for arts and humanities contribute directly to the prosperity of American Communities in every congressional district. They create jobs, promote tourism and connect us to shared values. Weakening these would lead to less jobs but a shared cost to a nation that loses touch with its the past. So thank you. Thanks to all of you who stand up for and protect our shared culture every where. In some areas it is easier to safeguard. In others it requires vigilance and Government Support to make sure that no child is denied access. For that hammnd over your heart thank you so much. The opportunity to create hamilton, and enhanced by my dad who i will not make stand up a fourth time, instills me with pride. High school kids have a curriculum on hamilton and the founders and they create original works. And to hear that they want to be teachers and historians as a result of this experience, 250,000 kids from all over the country, from title i schools will have the opportunity to go through the program. And thats a for real legacy, that is a tell our story level legacy, and theyre not all going to grow up and go into theater, but in engaging hamiltons story in a real way they begin to find their own, they begin to ask, what do i want to do with my time here on earth, what kind of country do we want to create for ourselves. On behalf of everyone who works tirelessly to share culture and history, it means so much to me, thank you for this great honor and have a wonderful night. [ applause ] thank you, mr. Miranda, for your inspiring remarks tonight. Im don carlson, the new chairman of the u. S. Capital his tosh c tor cal society, and with me is john lewis. [ applause ] im honored to stand on the same platform with this true gentleman. Three years ago, the society presented the Freedom Award to john lewis is wreck ligs of his lifelong commitment to civil rights. Tonight he join us as the author of a trilogy entitled march. Like our award recipient, congressman lewis found a way to teach history. March is presented in graphic or comic book form. Its a great read. We now sprint the 2017 Freedom Award to lin manuel miranda. Lin will you please come forward. On behalf of the u. S. Capitol his tosh cal society we want to present to you tonight the 2017 Freedom Award to you lynn manuel the miranda, in recognition of your achievement of continuing the origins and vitality of constitutional ideals through creative art and education, by empowering americans across generations and origins to see themselves in our past. You have fostered the spirit of engagement. Thank you. [ applause ]. Congressman lewis, would you like to make a few remarks . Thank you, thank you. Good evening. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im proud to join you in congratulations, mr. Miranda, in receiving this great honor. You sigh, i was a champion of the arts long before i was elected to congress. Those who really know me understand that i love history. And i adore the arts. As said on occasion that without music or drama, the Civil Rights Movement would have been like a bird without wings. Nina simone and tony bennett. James baldwin, harry belafonte, peter, paul mary. These are just a few of the artists who transmitted our feelings into lit erature, recorded our pain and progress. So tonight i join our friends and colleagues in thanking you for continuing the ongoing struggle to redeem the soul of america. [ applause ] to shape, to inform, to inspire and to move our people. Your play in the heights gave voice to immigrants, to love and to the american dream. Through hamilton, lin manuel, you have inspired hundreds of thousands of people to be brave and courageous, to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble, and i say thank you. Every day you mold the souls of men and women, the young and old, and people of all races and religion, lin manuel, youre so young. [ laughter ] so gifted and so talented. I know in my heart of hearts that your work and wisdom will inspire generations yet unborn. I hope that you will continue to create, to challenge and to channel the voices, the hopes and the need ts of all people, regard loss of their race, religion, Sexual Orientation or identity. Together we must strive toward the beloved community where love, peace, equality and simple justice the are infused into the heart and soul. Lin manuel,
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