Civil Rights
The struggle for civil rights in America has played out in Congress, in the U.S. Supreme Court and in the White House. There are other sites in and around Washington, D.C. that commemorate the efforts of those who worked to ensure that all Americans have equal rights.
National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian) 
(202) 633-1000
Constitution Avenue Between 14th and 15th Streets, NW, Washington, DC
Hours & Admission
10am-5pm daily
Closed December 25
No admission charged
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in September 2016 and is the newest of the Smithsonian Museums. It houses exhibits and artifacts where all Americans can learn about African American history, its contributions, and influences that helped shape this nation.
While admissions to the NMAAHC is free, entry is through required timed entry passes. There are several ways to obtain tickets. Same-day timed entry passes are available online beginning at 6:30 a.m. Eastern daily until they run out. You can get up to four same-day passes. Those are not available via phone, only online. Also, starting next month (January 2019), there will be walk-up entry every weekday. Previously this was only on certain weekdays (Wednesday, I think). Now they are making it available Monday through Friday afternoons, after 1 p.m., all year. During off-peak season, walk-up entry is available all day on weekdays, but they are here in March, which fits into the peak season, so it would be after 1 p.m.
There is also consideration given to veterans, active duty personnel and first responders. If one of the individuals fits into one of those categories, they should show their military or work ID or badge and they can enter the museum along with one guest without a timed entry pass. The caveat here is that entry to the museum is always subject to building capacity, so if it is nearing capacity, they would have to wait until the museum has room to accommodate new visitors. Weekends and holidays are peak visitation times. Visit the NMAAHC's website to learn about all the ways to visit the museum during your stay in the nation's capital.
African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
(202) 667-2667
1925 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20001
Hours and Admission
10am-5pm weekdays
10am-2pm Saturday
Closed Sundays
No admission charged; groups of more than 20 should call ahead
The "only memorial in the country dedicated to the Colored Troops in the Civil War." The museum contains photographs, newspaper articles, replicas of period clothing, uniforms and weaponry to help understand the role of African Americans throughout the Civil War.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
1964 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20024
Located at the intersection of Independence Ave and West Basin Drive SW in Washington, D.C.
The nearest metro stop is Smithsonian.
Hours and Admission
Open 24 hours a day, year-round
National Park Service Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30am-10pm.
No admission charged
The monument to Martin Luther King, Jr. is located along the Potomac Tidal Basin and provides a compelling environment for reflection. As only the fourth non-President to be memorialized this way, Martin Luther King, Jr. boldly towers above onlookers, in the form of solid granite, standing as a symbol of the worldwide quest for civil rights for all people. The monument is themed after Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with massive stones symbolizing the “mountain of despair” and a “stone of hope”. It includes an inscription wall with excerpts from some of his most celebrated speeches.
Alexandria Freedmen’s Cemetery
(703) 746-4356
1001 S. Washington Street
(Corner of Church Street)
Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
This cemetery was abandoned by the federal government in 1869 after almost five years of use. It was rediscovered within the last decade through newspaper sources and burial records. Archaeologists have identified that destitute African American “contraband,” or freedmen were buried here by the military authority during the Civil War. Plans are now underway to protect the cemetery as well as construct a memorial part. The Alexandria Black History Museum is coordinating the project.One of the nation's oldest art museums with collections of American art, European art, contemporary art, photography, media arts and decorative arts.
Alexandria Black History Museum
(703) 746-4356
902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Hours and Admission
10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturady
Closed Sunday, Monday, New Years Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, December 25 and birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Alexandria Black History Museum was built in 1989 in order to preserve the history of African-American citizens in Alexandria and provide a means of discussion for issues related to African Americans. The museum aims to better the lives of Alexandria’s residents by promoting tolerance and understanding of different cultures as well as foster the appreciation of the diversity of the African American experience.
Anacostia Community Museum (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-4820 or (202) 633-4820
1901 Fort Street, SE, Washington, DC 20020
Hours and Admission
10am-5pm daily
Closed December 25
No admission charged
This Smithsonian museum, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, is dedicated to African American history and culture. Everyday objects are featured to provide perspective in history and culture. For example, one exhibit includes a handwritten loan agreement dated 1833; the loan, for $155, secured the freedom of a young enslaved woman.
Arlington National Cemetery 
Arlington, Virginia
(877) 907-8585
Hours and Admission
8am-7pm April 1-September 30;
8am-5pm October 1-March 31
No tickets needed for self-guided tours; tickets required for tour buses, which operate throughout the day
The somber sight of hundreds and hundreds of white crosses lined up across a green lawn is a striking visual and brings into sharper focus the debt of gratitude owed to our nation's military heroes. It’s no surprise that it’s called “our nation’s most hallowed ground.” Final resting place of two U.S. Presidents, John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft, as well as thousands of American servicemen and women. The Changing of the Guard occurs on the hour each hour October through March, then occurs every half-hour April through September; one of my staff members describes The Changing of the Guard as "awesome". Tour bus services operate throughout the day; tickets can be purchased at the cemetery. One section at Arlington National Cemetery features the graves of "Colored Troops."
Ebenezer United Methodist Church
400 D Street, SE, Washington, DC
Hours and Admission
See website for service times.
The Ebenezer United Methodist Church is Capitol Hill's oldest independent black congregation. It was founded in 1827. The current church was completed in 1897. This church sponsored the first public school for Washington African Americans, and the school's archives are housed at the church.
Emancipation Statue at Lincoln Park
East Capitol Street and 11th Street, NW,
Washington, DC
No admission charged
Dedicated in 1876, the statue was paid for solely with funds donated by freed slaves. It is located in Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill. Lincoln Park was the first site to bear the name of the martyred President. The statue was unveiled on April 14, 1876, the 11th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination. It depicts Lincoln holding the Emancipation Proclamation before a kneeling black man, who is modeled after Archer Alexander, the last person captured under the Fugitive Slave Act.
Frederick Douglass Museum and Caring Hall of Fame
(202) 547-4273 320 A Street, NE,
Washington, DC
Hours and Admission
Open by appointment only
Frederick Douglass was the leading black statesman of his time and spent the last 25 years of his life in Washington, DC. He was a newspaper editor in New York and continued that profession when he moved to the nation’s capital. His home is now a museum and serves as the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
1411 W Street SE, Washington, DC
The visitor center and a free parking lot are at the intersection of W and 15th Streets SE.
Hours and Admission
Open daily 9am-5pm
No admission charged; advance tickets for guided tours of the house can be obtained for a modest fee online.
This Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, located in in the Anacostia area of Southeast Washington, D.C., was the last last home of Douglass where he lived here from 1878 until his death in 1895.
Freedom House Museum
(703) 836-2858
1315 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Hours and Admission
10am-4pm Monday-Friday No admission charged, donations accepted.
Group tours and weekend tours available by appointment.
The Freedom House Museum, formerly the headquarters of Franklin, Armfield & Co., was originally the largest domestic slave trading company in the entire country. The Freedom House Museum now serves to provide education and insight to the descendants of those once held captive.
Freedom Plaza 
Corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
No admission charged
Freedom Plaza is named to honor the memory of Martin Luther King and his contribution to civil rights in the U.S. On January 15, 1988, a time capsule containing objects belonging to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was buried here. It is scheduled to be opened in 2088 - 100 years after it was buried. Objects include Dr. King's robe, his Bible and other memorabilia.This museum is dedicated to the exhibition, preservation and acquisition of works by women artists. Its permanent collection of more than 3,000 works ranges from the 16th century to the present.
Laurel Grove School Museum
(703) 313-4690
6840 Beulah St., Alexandria, VA 22310
Hours and Admission
Tours of the school museum are available but must be scheduled in advance.
Please see the school's website for details.
The Laurel Grove School was built in the 1880’s as a one-room schoolhouse that educated black children in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is the only remaining African American school house in Northern Virginia. Now restored, the Laurel Grove School Association is developing the site to perform historic research, reconstruct the daily experiences of children from the 1920’s, and develop year-round public education programming.
Lincoln Memorial 
(202) 426-6841
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW, Washington, D.C.
(Nearest Intersection: Independence Ave. SW & Daniel Chester French Dr. SW)
Hours and Admission
Open 24 hours a day, year-round
National Park Service Rangers available 9:30am-10pm
No admission charged
A solemn remembrance of the legacy of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, this is a must for Civil War buffs. It is located at the west end of the National Mall, and resembles a Greek Doric temple. Its 36 columns represent the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. It has been the site of many historic gatherings and speeches, including 1963's "I Have A Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An exhibit in the basement of the memorial highlights civil rights efforts.
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
(202) 673-2402
1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Hours and Admission
Open daily 9am-5pm
Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25
No admission charged
The home of Bethune, a tireless educator who was the 15th of 17 children of former slaves, is a National Historic Site. An advisor and close friend of President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, she was the only woman present at the founding of the United Nations. She was dedicated to educating all about the accomplishments and needs of African Americans.
Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial at Lincoln Park 
East Capitol Street and 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC
Hours and Admission
Open sunrise-sunset
No admission charged
This is the first memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor a black American. The 17-foot-high bronze statue depicts Bethune handing off her legacy to two children, who represent the next generation of African Americans.
Metropolitan AME Church
(202) 331-1426
1518 M Street, NW, Washington, DC
Hours and Admission
Services held Sunday at 7:45am and 11am
The red-brick Gothic-style church, built in 1886, is the oldest continuously black-owned property in downtown Washington, DC. Notable parshioners have included Frederick Douglass and educator Francis Cardoza.
National Air and Space Museum on the Mall (Smithsonian)
(202) 633-2214
6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours and Admission
10am-5:30pm daily, though hours sometimes extended to 7:30 pm during peak-summer months, check website for today's hours.
Closed December 25
No admission charged; tickets to IMAX theatre must be purchased
Among the permanent exhibits at the Air and Space Museum is "Black Wings: The American Black I Aviation" that honors African Americans in aviation. It also has the in-flight suit of astronaut Guion "Guy" Bluford, the first African American in space. Bluford flew on four space shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992 and was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1997.
Beginning December 3, 2018, the Air & Space Museum will begin undergoing a 7-year rennovation project. Visit their website for more information.
National Archives Exhibit Hall 
(866) 272-6272
700 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408
Between 7th and 9th Streets, NW
Hours and Admission
10am-5:30pm Daily
Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 25
No admission charged
Millions of documents are created in the course of government business, but less than three percent are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever. It is in the National Archives that you will find some of those documents, including the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, which are in display in the Exhibit Hall. You can also make arrangements to visit the Research Room to conduct your own research in the textual and microfilm records kept at the National Archives. You can view what documents are available here. The Archives were collected starting in 1926.
While no tickets are needed, the lines form early during spring and summer months.
To skip the line line, reservations may be made, for a modest fee, by visiting the National Archives Museum website.
U.S. Capitol 
(202) 224-6142 to schedule a tour through my congressional office
(202) 226-8000 Automated visitors' information line Capitol Hill
Guided tours of the Capitol are offered Monday-Saturday from 8:50am-3:20pm
The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday 8:30am-4pm
Construction of the Capitol began in 1793 using mostly skilled and unskilled African American men and women. After completion of the building, many of those workers became domestic servants and professional staff. Philip Reid, who was enslaved, was responsible for the final casting, transportation and assembly of Freedom, the statue by white sculptor Thomas Crawford that tops the dome of the building.
The first three African Americans to serve in Congress arrived in 1869 following the Civil War. Hiram Revels was elected to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi; Joseph Rainey was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina; and Jefferson Long was elected to the House from Georgia.
Our office offers staff-guided tours at 10:00 and 2:00 every weekday, though we are more than happy to adjust those times to your schedule. With at least 21 days’ advance notice, we are also able to reserve passes on Saturdays.
The U.S. Capitol Guide Service also offers tours. You can book a tour online at Visit The Capitol or you can pick up same-day tickets from kiosks at located at the Captiol Visitor Center. Tickets are handed out daily and cannot be reserved. Tours operate Monday through Saturday, 8:50am to 3:20pm. Please be aware of security guidelines and prohibited items in the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. Supreme Court
(202) 479-3211
1 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20543
Hours and Admission
Tours are conducted every hour on the half-hour, 9:30am-3:30pm Monday-Friday;
Closed weekends and federal holidays.
Court business may conflict with tour schedule, so please check the Court's calendar for details. Contact my office for additional information.
It was in this building that a number of legal precedents have been set regarding civil rights in the United States, including Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Thurgood Marshall was the first African American appointed to the Supreme Court and served as an Associate Justice from 1967 until 1991. Clarence Thomas, the second African American appointed to the Court, has served since 1991.
The cornerstone was laid in 1932, with the building completed in 1935. It was the first time in our country’s history that the nation’s highest court had its own building, and worth noting that it was done for less than what Congress funded and money was returned to the Treasury. The court is in session October through April. Courtroom seats are available on a first come first served basis.
The White House
The White House Visitors Office 24-Hour Hotline at (202) 456-7041 
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C
Hours and Admission
Tours are available Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30am to 11:30am
Friday-Saturday, 7:30am - 1:30pm
No admission charged
Please note that while my office is able to assist you with scheduling a tour, there are times when tours may be canceled without prior notice from the White House.
For more information, please visit: www.whitehouse.gov
The White House offers self-guided tours to patrons on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations are required to tour the White House. Please contact my office for assistance in securing a tour reservation for your party. Upon request, my office will be asked to provide the White House with security information about each member of your party (including children).. Due to limited availability, it is highly recommended that tour requests be submitted as early as possible. Requests can be submitted up to three (3) months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. If your party requests a visit that is less than 21 days away, the White House will not approve the tour request.
Every President since John Adams has lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the most famous addresses in the world. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public. President George Washington oversaw construction of the building, but never lived in it. The White House survived a fire set by British troops in 1814 and another fire in the West Wing in 1929. There are 132 rooms, 35 bathroom and six levels, with 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases and three elevators. While it’s now known as The White House (officially given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901), it has also been known as the President’s Palace, the President’s House, and the Executive Mansion. Self-guided tours include the East Room and the Blue Room.
A visit to the White House Visitors Center, located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, is also a great stop and will greatly enhance your tour experience.
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