Self-guided · metro area, Washington, D.C.

Library Local History Programs in Washington, DC

The Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area has about 6,465,724 residents, ranking 7th in the country. Historical societies, libraries and clubs here already know the stories. What they need is a way to put those stories on a phone and in front of new people.

Programs a library can run around the listed sites in its own service area, from walking clubs to research nights.

Open the Washington, D.C. map · All states

On the record near Washington, DC

The 12 nearest

882 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Washington, DC.

Third Baptist Churchunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington, DC. · listed 2008National Register of Historic Places
Lafayette Apartment Buildingunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1994National Register of Historic Places
Shaw Junior High Schoolunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington, D.C. · listed 2008National Register of Historic Places
Holzbeierlein Bakeryunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 2017National Register of Historic Places
Walter E. Washington Houseunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Terrell, Mary Church, Houseunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1975National Register of Historic Places
O Street Marketunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1995National Register of Historic Places
Barker, George M., Company Warehouseunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 2008National Register of Historic Places
Howard Theatreunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Langston, John Mercer, Schoolunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 2013National Register of Historic Places
Dorsch's White Cross Bakeryunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 2012National Register of Historic Places
Armstrong Manual Training Schoolunder a mile from the center of Washington · Building · Washington · listed 1996National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Washington, DC. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Library Programs in Washington, step by step

1
Choose the theme your group knows best
2
Build a route from the listed sites that fit it
3
Write the group's own notes for each stop
4
Run the route once with members and fix what did not work
5
Open it to the public and track who walks it

What people in Washington, DC ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Washington, DC?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

Can our group in Washington, DC build its own route?

Yes. Pick the listed sites that fit your theme, add your own notes for each stop, and share the route with members or the public.

Do members need to download anything?

The map runs in a phone browser, so members can open a link and go. The app keeps track of badges for anyone who signs in.

How a visit works in Washington

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Washington, DC the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Washington, DC are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.