DCPL and COVID-19
DC Preservation League’s staff and board recognize how challenging this time has been for members of our community. Although we are not able to offer some of the programming we would typically share during this time of year, we are still here to serve: answering questions about DC’s architectural history, keeping you in the loop about current issues affecting the District’s build environment, and connecting you to digital resources to stay engaged.
DC Historic Sites
DC Historic Sites is based on the DC Inventory of Historic Sites, the city’s official list of properties deemed worthy of recognition and protection for their contribution to the cultural heritage of the city, the nation’s capital, and the nation. Learn more about specific buildings and take virtual thematic tours. Explore on desktop or mobile.
DCPL Instagram Bingo
Word Searches
Online Maps and Exhibits
- Black Broadway on U
- Black Power in Washington, D.C:1961-1998
- D.C. Chinatown Historic Walking Tour
- Mapping Segregation in DC by Prologue DC, LLC
- Rainbow History Project Self-Guided Tours
- Wardman’s Washington by Sally Berk
Researching Historic Homes
Exploring History Online Research Workshop Presentation
DC Public Library
The DC Public Library offers the DC community an abundance of online resources to help research historic homes.
Official library cards are distributed at library branch locations, which are currently closed–but you can fill out an online application to get a temporary digital card for 90 days.
- Introduction to research
- Databases (Washington Post and Washington Evening Star are particularly helpful)
- DigDC
CityLab: How to Discover the History of Your Neighborhood, Without Leaving Home (Visual Guide)
DCPL Videos
Other Videos:
Activities for Families & Children
DC Preservation League Lesson Plan: Look Up! Look Down!
The goal of these lessons and activities is to stress the importance of every community and preserving its history, and to broaden the students’ understanding of what that means. Students will identify items and places that matter to them and determine why it is important to learn about and preserve them.
Lesson materials and activities:
Children’s Books:
- “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton
- 10 Preservation Books for Children and Teens
- Los Angeles Conservancy: Places + People – A Book List and Storytime for Kids
Other Resources and Activities:
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: 13 Virtual Ways to “Edutain” Kids About History and Preservation
- AIA Online Learning for Kids
- Shaw Main Streets: Shaw Neighborhood Coloring Book
- District Architecture Center: Architecture Bingo
- Foster + Partners:
Special Events
DCPL is adhering to CDC guidelines with respect to public gatherings. All special events during this timeframe are rescheduled or postponed.
We encourage you to reach out to info@dcpreservation.org with any questions about scheduled events.
