Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in District of Columbia, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-05. Check linked official notices before travel.

Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site preserves the historian’s former home and office in Washington, DC’s Shaw neighborhood. The National Park Service has scheduled a reopening open house for November 7, 2026, with regular visits starting November 10.

Inside Woodson’s home and office

The house tour gives you a look at the place where Woodson lived and worked. The renovation added a visitor center and more exhibit space, so a visit can pair the home with the story of his work as a historian and publisher.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Historic house rules

Leave large bags and strollers outside the historic home. Pick up your ticket at the visitor center before a regular tour. You cannot join once the group has entered the house.

Book a regular tour

Use Recreation.gov for regular tours from November 10. Book up to three months ahead, through midnight the day before the tour. Arrive 30 minutes early for a standard tour or 15 minutes early for a group tour. If your party has 10 or more people, check the group tour option before you go. School groups should contact group sales for the separate school rate.

Find the house in Shaw

The home is at 1538 Ninth Street NW. From Shaw–Howard University Metro station, use the 8th and R Street exit and follow the NPS walking directions. Use the church address in the table only for the November 7 event.

Nearby historic sites

• Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site: Find it at 1318 Vermont Avenue NW, near Logan Circle. The house is closed for rehabilitation. The closure notice runs through the morning of January 27, 2027.
• African American Civil War Memorial: The outdoor memorial is at Vermont Avenue, 10th Street, and U Street NW.

Tour the home and see the exhibits

Use the exhibits to put Woodson’s scholarship in context, then take a guided tour of the house. For the November 7 event, the National Park Service also lists Shaw neighborhood walking tours.

Visitor center

The visitor center is the ticket pickup point for regular tours. The NPS accessibility guide lists a first-floor route through the rear entrance by arrangement and stairs to the upper floors. Call before booking to confirm access after the renovation.

About the Woodson Home

A home that was also a workplace

Woodson bought the house in 1922 and lived and worked here until his death in 1950. It served as headquarters for the association now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and for Associated Publishers. Woodson started Negro History Week here in 1926, a precursor to Black History Month.

Contact the National Park Service

Call 771-208-1499 for site and access questions.