Booking choice: The small-group driving tour, from $90 per person. Check dates Tour details
Washington has three National Park Service homes tied to African American leaders: Frederick Douglass's Cedar Hill, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House and the Carter G. Woodson Home. For years, at most two of them were open at once. This fall the line-up shifts again.
Here is what reopens, what closes, and how it changes a Black history day in the city.
The quick answer
The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, 1538 9th Street NW, has its grand reopening on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m., free. The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House closed on September 9, 2026, and the Park Service expects to reopen it in early 2027. Cedar Hill keeps its ranger tours, Tuesday to Saturday.
When does the Carter G. Woodson Home reopen?
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, with a free grand reopening that starts at 9:00 a.m.
Destination DC lists the grand reopening for November 7 at 1538 9th Street NW, free, with special programs on opening day. The Park Service's own September 2026 news release confirms the Woodson Home is expected to reopen in November 2026, and the park homepage now promotes the new visitor center, exhibits and programs.
Expect a crowd on the day itself. If you want a quiet look at the rooms, come back on a later tour day.
Who was Carter G. Woodson, and why does this house matter?
The historian who launched Negro History Week in 1926, the start of Black History Month. He lived and worked here.
Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia, on December 19, 1875, to parents who had been enslaved. According to the Park Service biography, he became in 1912 the first person of enslaved parents to earn a Harvard doctorate. In 1915 he co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, today's ASALH, and in 1916 he started the Journal of Negro History.
The row house was his home from 1922 until 1950, and the park FAQ describes three stories and ten rooms. It also served as the publishing office for his work and the association. Negro History Week, launched from this address in 1926, grew into the Black History Month the country marks every February.
What will a visit look like?
Ranger-led tours of the house plus a new visitor center next door, in two buildings the Park Service bought from Shiloh Baptist Church.
The park FAQ explains that the Park Service bought 1540 and 1542 9th Street NW to house a visitor center. Before the closure, house tours ran as below, per the guided tours page. The park has not yet published its post-reopening schedule there, so check that page before you go.
Two practical points. The second and third floors are reached by stairs only, though a ramp and an accessible parking spot sit behind the house. And strollers and large bags stay outside.
| Tour detail | Pre-closure rule |
|---|---|
| Days | Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
| Departures | 9, 10, 11 a.m.; 1, 2, 3, 4 p.m. |
| Length | About 45 minutes |
| Group size | Up to 20 per tour |
| Reservations | recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777, at least a day ahead, $1 per spot |
| Walk-ups | First come, first served if space remains |
Is the Bethune Council House closed?
Yes. It closed on September 9, 2026, for interior and exterior repairs, and should reopen in early 2027.
The Park Service announced the closure on September 8: work on the interior and exterior, plus cleaning of the historic artifacts. Until it reopens, the park points visitors to its virtual tour.
This matters if you book the small-group driving tour: its listing includes a 30-minute Bethune Council House stop. With the house shut, that stop can only be an outside look or a swap. Ask the operator through your booking which it will be. The outdoor Bethune memorial in Lincoln Park, which the private history tour mentions in its itinerary, is unaffected.
A small-group drive past the Woodson Home and Cedar Hill, ending at the museum.
Check dates for the small-group driving tourWhich Black history homes can you visit this fall?
Cedar Hill all season, the Woodson Home from November 7, and the Bethune Council House not before early 2027.
Frederick Douglass's house in Anacostia is the steady one. Rangers lead house tours Tuesday to Saturday, about 30 minutes, $1 per reserved spot on recreation.gov. Our Cedar Hill guide has the full routine.
| Home | Neighborhood | Status this fall | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Douglass NHS (Cedar Hill) | Anacostia | Open | Ranger tours Tue to Sat, $1 reserved |
| Carter G. Woodson Home NHS | Shaw | Reopens Nov 7, 2026 | Check the park page for the new schedule |
| Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS | Logan Circle | Closed since Sep 9, 2026 | Virtual tour until early 2027 |
How do you get to the Woodson Home?
By Metro: Shaw-Howard University station on the Green Line, under three minutes on foot.
The directions page says to take the 8th and R Street exit, walk one block west on R Street to 9th, then turn left and cross Rhode Island Avenue. The house is the third from that corner on the right, red brick.
On a tour, the house is a drive-past at best. The KB small-group route lists the Woodson Home as a pass-by. Pair a tour day with your own visit on a Thursday to Saturday, or read our list of Black history sites for a self-guided route.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Woodson Home reopening free?
Yes. The November 7, 2026 grand reopening is listed as free.
Where is the Carter G. Woodson Home?
At 1538 9th Street NW in Shaw, a short walk from the Shaw-Howard University Metro station.
When will the Bethune Council House reopen?
The Park Service expects early 2027. Until then it offers a virtual tour.
Do I need a reservation for the Woodson Home?
Before the closure, tours could be reserved on recreation.gov for $1 per spot, with walk-ups taken if space remained. Check the park's tours page for the new schedule.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD; check whether each is per person or per group.
Black History Driving Tour with Museum Tickets
- Small-group tour, maximum 21 travelers, air-conditioned vehicle
- Listed stops: Capitol, White House, Lincoln and MLK Memorials, Frederick Douglass NHS, Civil War Memorial Museum, Bethune Council House
- Drive-bys listed: LeDroit Park, Howard Theatre, Howard University, Carter G. Woodson Home
Private African American History Tour & Museum Entry
- Private tour for your group only, by SUV or van (two booking options)
- Listed stops: African American Civil War Memorial Museum (outside), Frederick Douglass NHS, Ben's Chili Bowl mural, U.S. Capitol, MLK and Lincoln Memorials
- Complimentary museum timed-entry reservation after the tour (the operator says it is not guaranteed)
History of Slavery Private Walking Tour
- Private walking tour, only your group
- Stops: Lafayette Square, Decatur House, National Mall, C&O Canal, ending at the museum
- Museum entry is not listed: reserve your own free timed pass
