In celebration of Black History Month 2024, the sites of National Capital Parks-East: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Fort Washington Park, and Oxon Hill Farm are offering programming related to this year's National Theme of "African Americans and the Arts". SPECIAL EVENTS
2024 marks the 206th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’s birth. Join the Ranger staff at THEARC at 12:30 pm for Pre-program activities in the lobby and at 2:00 pm for the main program. The program, highlighting African Americans in the Arts includes:
Reservations required and may be made by emailing DouglassNHS@nps.gov. SPECIAL WEEKLY PROGRAMS
“Reading Ranger, historic African Myths and Folk Tales by Dr. Carter G. Woodson” Join the Ranger team as they read selected stories from Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s book African Myths and Folk Tales. Published in 1928, the book showcases engaging and historic folk tales from Africa. What better way for young people to get into the spirit of Black History Month!
“Walking in the Steps of the Bookman” A free walking tour from the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS to the Carter G. Woodson Home NHS and back will be offered every Friday in February at 1:00 pm. The walking tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and takes visitors around noted landmarks of the Logan Circle and Shaw Neighborhoods. Dr. Carter G. Woodson was affectionately known as “The Bookman” by local residents in the Shaw Neighborhood. This walking tour retraces routes and places frequented by Dr. Woodson and represent landmarks in Black History. Participants should meet at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS (located at 1318 Vermont Avenue, N.W.) In the event of inclement weather such as a thunderstorm, snow, or extreme cold, the tour will not be given.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCESEach year, a national Black History Theme is selected by the organization that Dr. Carter G. Woodson established in 1915, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. (ASALH). The 2024 National Theme is: "African Americans and the Arts". For more information on the theme and ASALH's annual Black History Month Festival, visit here.Every February during Black History Month and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners share stories, rich culture, and an invitation for all Americans to reflect on Black history in parks and communities across the country. Learn more here. Click here to view the the White House's Presidential Proclamation on National Black History Month 2024. Be sure to follow the Historic Homes of National Capital Parks-East on Social Media throughout Black History Month for interesting content! #FindYourPark #BlackHistoryMonth #NACEHistoricHomes #BlackHistory #FrederickDouglass #MaryMcLeodBethune #CarterGWoodsonFrederick Douglass NHS X/Twitter @FredDouglassNPS Instagram @FrederickDouglassNPS Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS X/Twitter @BethuneNHS Instagram @BethuneNHS Carter G. Woodson Home NHS X/Twitter @WoodsonNHS |