Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

The Carter G. Woodson Home is a three-story Victorian rowhouse in Shaw neighborhood that displays the preserved office and living spaces of this influential historian. The building stands among other period houses on its street and provides insight into how a pioneering academic worked and lived.

The house was built in the 1870s as a residence and became headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History starting in 1922. This organization fundamentally shaped how Americans understand and recognize Black history.

The scholar established Negro History Week in 1926 from this location, an event that later evolved into the national observance of Black History Month. Visitors can see how these spaces served as a center for producing knowledge about African American life and achievements.

The site is managed by the National Park Service and visitors can move through various rooms to see books, documents, and personal items on display. Tours are typically guided, so it is worth checking ahead and allowing adequate time for your visit.

The founder was the second person of African descent to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, and the first doctoral graduate whose parents had been enslaved. This personal story illustrates how far the academic world had opened for Black scholars while social barriers remained firmly in place.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 38.91082,-77.02424

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:01