Six guests leave to North Gallery and head back to the landing of the DC History Center.

A historic metro map lays on a wooden table with a sleeve of 1940s era bus fare cards laid over top. A woman's hand with its nails painted in black polish touches the items.

Domonique Spear, Manager of Visitor Experience, speaks to children gathered outside the Carnegie Library to visit the DC History Center. Behind them, the pediment above the entrance to the first floor of the library is visible.

Education Manager Vanessa Williams (right) talks with a teacher about their classroom resource. Photo by Phillip Warfield.

Two men seated and holding microphones speak to an audience in the West Gallery.

A man kneels as he returns a journal to one of the shelves in the Kiplinger Research Library. Shelves of books are visible behind him.

A photo of the Carnegie Library from the right corner of its K Street facing side. The front of the building and its six corinthian columns and three pointed pediments are visible behind two lamp posts. A woman sits on one of two benches in front of the Carnegie Library as two men walk away from the Carnegie Library.

A young toddler stands barefoot on a rug while playing with a large, colorful abacus at the DC History Center’s Class Action exhibition. Behind the child, a vintage school locker with an orange jacket inside adds to the classroom-themed setting.

High school students gather around a table in the Kiplinger Research Library and look at a replica of a historic poster.

DC History Center staff wrap the 2026 DC History Conference.

Two people browse a well-organized gift shop filled with books, T-shirts, tote bags, and various souvenirs related to Washington, DC. One person, wearing a green shirt, is reaching for a book on a shelf, while the other, dressed in a white shirt and dark shorts, stands with hands in pockets, looking at the display. Items include shirts with slogans like “History Happens Here” and “Taxation Demands Representation,” tote bags labeled “DC History Center,” and a variety of books, children's items, and art prints. The shelves are modern with spot lighting, creating a clean and inviting atmosphere.

Understanding our city’s past to connect, empower, and inspire

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Upcoming Programs

A New Oral History Exhibition, "hometown DC," Opens June 2026

Hometown DC is a community-driven public history project that showcases the voices, stories, and lived experiences of District residents through oral history interviews, outdoor installations at eight DC Public Library locations, and free public events. The project offers an intimate and complex portrait of what it means to call the nation’s capital home in the year 2026.

Research DC History

The Kiplinger Research Library is the DC History Center’s special collections repository of local Washington, DC history. Today’s collections are enjoyed and studied by scholars, journalists, authors, local residents, genealogists, and students. Anyone interested in local DC history is encouraged to explore our collections.

Explore the DC History Center's Digital Collections

Created through ResourceSpace, this platform includes: born-digital materials, public domain photograph collections, digitized audio-visual material, donated scans from community archiving events, and more.

About us

Elevating the stories of Washington’s diverse people, communities, and institutions

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.