Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site facts for kids
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Carter G. Woodson House
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Carter G. Woodson House in 2017
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1538 9th St., NW, Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1915 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Website | Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002135 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHS | February 27, 2006 |
The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site is located at 1538 9th Street NW in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. This special place protects the former home of Carter G. Woodson (1875–1950). Woodson was a very important African-American historian, writer, and journalist. He is best known as the founder of Black History Month.
A Special Home with a Big Purpose
Dr. Woodson lived and worked in this three-story Victorian house from 1922 until he passed away in 1950. It was more than just his home; it was a busy center for his work.
From here, Dr. Woodson managed the daily tasks of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). This group works to research and share the history of African Americans.
He also published important magazines like the Negro History Bulletin and the Journal of Negro History. These publications helped share African-American history with many people.
Dr. Woodson also ran a publishing company called Associated Publishers. He spent a lot of time here doing his own research and writing about African-American history. After his death, the house continued to be the main office for the ASALH until the early 1970s.
Saving This Important Place
In 1976, the house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place of great national importance. However, the house became empty in the 1990s.
In 2001, a group called the National Trust for Historic Preservation put the house on a list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places." This helped bring attention to the need to save it.
Many people worked together to protect the home. These included the National Trust, the DC Preservation League, local community members, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Their efforts led to a law being passed in 2003 to make it a National Historic Site.
The Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, officially established the site on February 27, 2006. In 2005, the National Park Service bought the property. They opened it to the public in 2017. Today, it is managed along with the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, another important historic place in Washington, D.C.
