Carter G. Woodson Home Reopens November 7: Free Event, Tour Times and Reservations
The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., will reopen to the public on Saturday, November 7, 2026 , after a major rehabilitation project. The National Park Service says the work expanded exhibit space, added a visitor center and restored features of the historic home where Woodson lived and worked.
The reopening matters for travelers planning a history-focused visit to the Shaw neighborhood: November 7 is a special free open-house day, while the site’s regular timed-tour schedule begins on Tuesday, November 10.
What happens on November 7
The grand reopening runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The program includes guided house tours, walking tours through the Shaw neighborhood, children’s activities, music and access to the new visitor center and exhibits.
Visitors should not go directly to the house expecting to collect a ticket there. The National Park Service says tours and programming begin at Shiloh Baptist Church, 1500 Ninth Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 . Free tour tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NPS welcome tent inside the church.
No advance reservation is required for the November 7 open house, but capacity for individual tours may be limited. Arriving earlier in the day may provide more choices of tour times.
Regular hours and reservations from November 10
Regular operating hours begin Tuesday, November 10. The site is scheduled to open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Standard tours are planned for 9 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Group tours are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Advance reservations for the regular tours are available through Recreation.gov or by phone at 877-444-6777. Admission is free, but Recreation.gov applies a $1 service fee to each reserved ticket. The NPS says school groups are subject to a flat $10 reservation fee. Walk-in visitors may be admitted when space remains.
Getting there
The historic home is at 1538 Ninth Street NW , in Washington’s Shaw neighborhood. According to the park’s directions page, it is less than a three-minute walk from the Shaw–Howard University Metro station on the Green Line; travelers can use the Eighth and R Street exit and walk west to Ninth Street.
For the November 7 event, use Shiloh Baptist Church as the check-in point rather than the house itself. Travelers should also check the NPS event page shortly before departure in case the schedule or visitor instructions change.
Why the site is significant
Carter G. Woodson was a historian, educator and publisher who helped establish the scholarly study of Black history. He purchased the Ninth Street property in 1922 and used it as both his home and office until his death in 1950. The building also served as a headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and Associated Publishers.
The reopening adds a restored historic interior, new exhibits and a dedicated visitor center to a compact D.C. itinerary that can also include other sites connected with African American history.
Primary sources
National Park Service reopening announcement, October 14, 2026
NPS grand reopening event details
NPS directions to the Carter G. Woodson Home
Information checked November 5, 2026. Event operations can change; verify the NPS event page before travel.
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