SOLD OUT! Tell us you’re interested in this program by clicking Register and then “Join waitlist.” When we offer this tour again, you’ll be given first access to registration.
Back by popular demand, join us for another DC Archives Crawl!
Archives are institutions that collect and preserve original materials like historic photos, rare books, records, diaries, and letters and make them accessible to the public. The unique and irreplaceable items kept in archives allow all of us to study and learn from the past. Washington, DC has many archives, small and large, academic, governmental, and private, that serve different purposes.
Visit three of them during this special event on April 21 where we take you through the DC Archives, DC History Center, and People’s Archive. Meet staff, go behind the scenes, and demystify what these spaces hold and how you can use them.
It is more important than ever to support our local archives because they are key to preserving our stories. As museums and other cultural institutions are increasingly targeted by forces attempting to review and sanitize American history, our attention and protection of these treasures is essential.
5:00 Gather at Naylor Court NW and 9th Street NW 5:15 Tour the DC Archives 6:00 Walk to DC History Center 6:15 Tour DC History Center 7:00 Walk to MLK Library 7:15 People’s Archive Tour 8:00 Program Concludes
Registration is limited to 20 people to facilitate a good experience for attendees. A waitlist is enabled to capture additional interest and release tickets in case of cancellation. If we receive a positive response to this program, we will explore future programming.
Our time at each archive requires 45 minutes of standing (135 minutes total). The walk between each site is 0.5 miles, totaling 1 mile of walking. If you require accommodation for a disability, please email the DC History Center at programs@dchistory.org with your request as soon as possible. We are committed to making events accessible for all participants.
The DC Archives was established in the Office of the Secretary, February 11, 1986. The Office of the Secretary and the DC Archives holds historical and permanently valuable records of the DC Government such as birth and death records, wills, land records and marriage records. Historic records on file include the original wills of Alexander Graham Bell, Francis Scott Key, James Madison, Dolly Madison, Woodrow Wilson, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Frederick Douglass, and the birth certificate for Duke Ellington.
Founded in 1894, the DC History Center deepens understanding of our city’s past to connect, empower, and inspire. As the only community-based nonprofit focused on the District’s history, our vision is to engage with neighborhoods across DC and elevate the stories of Washington’s diverse people, communities, and institutions. The DC History Center’s collection is focused on local DC as opposed to federal Washington but encompasses the city limits and areas that have a direct relationship to individuals, locations, and events within the District, including historical connections with Maryland and Virginia. We are the caretakers of these materials, donated by families, organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and other communities that comprise Washington, DC.
The People’s Archive at DC Public Library is home to the dynamic collections that preserve and share the stories, histories, and voices of Washington, D.C.’s diverse communities, as well as the Black experience in the Unites States. It features materials—such as photographs, oral histories, documents, and more—that highlight the vibrant local, national and international history of DMV residents, grassroots movements, and cultural milestones, making it a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and anyone interested in learning more about the city’s past and present.