New Deal Art Tour at the Wilbur J. Cohen Building

Meet: July 22, 2026, 10am Capitol South Metro exit, 1^st and C Streets, SE.

End: Noon, Eisenhower Memorial, Independence Ave, SW

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt accepted the Democratic Party nomination in 1932, he said:  “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.”  The New Deal included putting Americans back to work during the Great Depression, and enacting legislation such at the Social Security Act to provide a safety net for working Americans in the future. These two ideals come together in the Wilbur J. Cohen building, sometimes referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the New Deal, where muralss by such renowned artists as Ben Shahn extol Social Security. In 2020, the GSA placed the Cohen Building (now home to the Voice of America) on a list of government buildings to be sold.  Preservationists have rallied to save the murals and GSA is offering tours.

Please join us for a walk and tour of the New Deal murals in the Cohen building.  Following the tour, we will visit the Eisenhower Memorial and tour other nearby sights, time allowing.

PLEASE READ:

To participate in this walking tour, we are required by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to submit a list of attendees in advance. Registration will close on July 14 so that we can provide this information by the required deadline.

Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on the REAL ID (or passport) you will present to enter the building.

As part of the registration process, GSA also requires us to ask whether any participants are foreign nationals. All are welcome to participate; this information is being collected at GSA’s request as part of their visitor registration process.

By registering for this program, you acknowledge that the information you provide — including your name and foreign national status — will be shared with the federal government for security and entry purposes. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at community@iona.org.

Please note: no large bags or items prohibited by airlines will be permitted in the building.