frederick douglass house virtual tour

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

The legacy of abolitionist and civil rights activist frederick douglass is preserved at his former residence in anacostia..

Built between 1855 and 1859, Frederick Douglass purchased this suburban Anacostia estate (Cedar Hill) in 1877. The African American abolitionist, publisher, orator, author, statesman, and champion of human rights lived in the home until his death in 1895. Recognized by many as the father of the civil rights movement, Douglass's home provided a space for his active political life and close family ties. 

The landscape of Cedar Hill during the historic period included usage as a “gentleman’s” farm (as opposed to a working farm), a family home, and a retreat. Uses of the landscape relating to the "gentleman’s farm" purpose included the growing and tending of gardens, orchards, fruit, and nut trees that supplemented the diet of both the family and livestock. This livestock included horses, cows, chickens, and possibly goats--all of whom provided both food and labor.

The landscape's use as a retreat was partially manifested in Douglass’ use of fragrant and flowering plants to enhance the home’s surroundings. Douglass was well known as an admirer of nature, and memoirs of the landscape from Douglass’ time recall his use of various annuals, perennials, vines, and shrubs around his property. The juxtaposition of the wooded setting in relation to the urban landscape also contributed to the allure of Cedar Hill. Douglass and his guests prized the wooded sections of the landscape for their wildness. The unique setting, size and vegetation rendered it a desirable destination for friends, family and associates of the Douglass family. 

In addition to memorializing an outstanding historical figure, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site emulates the characteristics of a romantic cottage in natural surroundings. While the landscape has been altered over time, it retains much of its historical integrity. The site is one of national importance—at the time that Douglass lived here, he was one of the most widely known and respected African Americans in DC and in the entire nation. Operated today by the National Park Service, the site preserves Douglass' legacy as an abolitionist and a civil rights leader.

The period of significance now acknowledges Helen Pitts Douglass’s (Frederick Douglass’s second wife) initial efforts to preserve the home in 1895, and extends through 1964, when President John F. Kennedy legally rendered the Frederick Douglass Home an official part of the National Park System. This highlights the importance of 19th/20th century movements that worked to preserve African American Historic Sites.

The nomination also now includes the National Park Service's reconstructed "Growlery," a recreation of a building used by Frederick Douglass for writing and solitude. It is deemed essential to understanding Douglass's life at Cedar Hill.

DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks) DC Inventory (Additional Documentation/Boundary Increase):  July 30, 2020 National Register: October 15, 1966 (documented on March 24, 1969) National Register (Additional Documentation/Boundary Increase):  December 30, 2022 Within Anacostia Historic District

National Capital Park: September 5, 1962 National Historic Site: June 25, 1964 National Underground Railroad Network: May 17, 2001

Official Website

Cite this page, related tours.

• Riding the 90? (From Anacostia Historic District to Duke Ellington Bridge/Rock Creek Park)
• Looking Back at the Joint Committee on Landmarks: A Selection of Sites
• Anacostia Historic District

Related Sources

• National Register Nomination Form
• The Growlery
• Virtual Exhibit (NPS)
• Virtual Exhibit (Google Arts & Culture)
• Updated Historic Landmark Nomination (Additional Documentation and Boundary Increase)

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Zoom tour of cedar hill, the frederick douglass national historic site -- open to everyone.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, National Park Service Washington, United States

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is located at 1411 W St., SE in Anacostia, a neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, D.C.. Established in 1988 as a National Historic Site, the site preserves the home and estate of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African Americans of the 19th century.

The museum objects, documents, and photographs featured here showcase Frederick Douglass' life at Cedar Hill. Douglass lived here from 1878 until his death in 1895. His home provided the backdrop to his active political and warm family life. The spacious estate and well-furnished rooms are a testament to Douglass' lifelong struggle to overcome entrenched prejudice. His personal belongings, home furnishings, books, photographs of family and friends can be seen in the very place where Douglass and his family used them. They provide a unique insight into his personal and public life, family, home, and interests.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Virtual Museum Exhibit

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Frederick Douglass

Frederick douglass national historic site, national park service, in this collection, 1 museum view.

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Frederick douglass national historic site.

Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Public Transit, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Theater/Auditorium, Wheelchair Accessible

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves and interprets  Cedar Hill , where  Frederick Douglass  lived from 1877 until his death in 1895.

The centerpiece of the site is the historic house, which sits on top of a 50-foot hill and eight acres of the original estate.  Restored  to its 1895 appearance, the house is furnished with  original objects  that belonged to Frederick Douglass and  other household members .

A typical visit lasts about 1.5 hours.  Things to do  include  touring the historic house , looking at exhibits, watching the film, and exploring the grounds. You must be on a  guided tour  to get inside the historic house. Because space is limited,  reservations  are  strongly encouraged , even if you are visiting on your own. If you are visiting with a group of more than ten,  reservations  are  required .

About Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass was an early supporter of blacks’ and women’s rights, a social reformer, and is referred to as the "Father" of the Civil Rights Movement. Douglass was born in February 1818 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the son of an enslaved mother and a white father. As a child, he worked in the fields, was moved from one family to another and was hired out to shipbuilders in Baltimore. Through these years he learned to read and write, met free blacks – learning that it was possible to be African American and be free – joined the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, and began to engage in debates. After several failed attempts to escape to the North, he succeeded in 1838, settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, with his new wife Anna. Within the next few years, Douglass championed the right of African Americans to fight in the Union Army and in May 1863, saw two of his sons leave with the Massachusetts 54 th Regiments for South Carolina. After the Civil War, he worked unceasingly for full civil rights for African Americans.

Douglass purchased his estate, Cedar Hill, in 1877. He was appointed US Minister and Counsel General to Haiti by President Benjamin Harrison, resigned the post in 1893, and returned to Cedar Hill where he died February 20, 1895.The site has a visitor center with exhibits. Contact the park for tours of the home. 

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site , National Capital Parks-East

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Last updated: April 9, 2021

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Discover Frederick Douglass’s Home

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site , National Capital Parks-East

Pets are not allowed on the grounds of the memorial.   Service animals are permitted without exception.

There is no entrance fee.   If you make  reservations  to   tour the historic house , there is a fee of $1.50 for each reserved ticket or a flat fee of $5.00 for school groups.

1411 W Street, S.E., Washington, D.C., 20020

The visitor center and a free parking lot are at the bottom of the hill near the intersection of W and 15th Streets, S.E. Check in at the visitor center at the beginning of your visit.

Public Transportation

Use the Green Line and get off at Anacostia Station. When exiting the train, follow signs to the "Howard Road" side of the station.  It is approximately 3/4 miles from the station to the site.

• If taking a bus, get on the B2 to "Mt. Rainier" or "Bladensburg Rd., V St. NE," or get on the V2 to "Minnesota Ave" or "Capitol Heights Station." There is a bus stop directly in front of the site at the corner of W and 14th Streets.
• If walking, take a right on Howard Road (walk 1 block), take a left on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue (walk 3 blocks), and take a right on W Street (walk 4 blocks to the site's visitor center).

Visit  WMATA  for fares and route details.

The B2 and V2 buses service the corner of W and 14th Streets, directly in front of the site. The 90, 93, A42, A46, A48, P1, P2, and P6 all drop off within two blocks of the site.

If you make  reservations  to   tour the historic house , there is a fee of $1.50 for each reserved ticket or a flat fee of $5.00 for school groups.

Please note:  You can only enter the historic house by being on a  guided tour . Reservations are strongly encouraged.

April through October - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm November through March - 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

We strive to make the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site accessible for everybody. Please contact us with your questions or concerns.

Service Animals Service animals are allowed in both the visitor center and historic house. 

Physical / Mobility

A wheelchair is available for visitors to borrow while at the site and can be requested at the visitor center.

Parking Lot

There are two designated accessible spaces near the visitor center entrance. The parking lot is paved.

Visitor Center

The visitor center is a single-level building at street level. Doors at the entrance and restrooms can only be opened manually.

Historic House

The historic house is a multi-level building on top of a large hill. It is 50 feet above street level. There is a paved ramp between the visitor center / parking lot area and the top of the hill. With staff permission, you can use a personal vehicle (no larger than a 15-passenger van) to access the top of the hill. Please be advised that wheelchairs more than 27.5 inches wide will not fit through the narrowest door frame on the first floor. The second floor can only be reached by stairs, as there is no elevator inside the house. Staff can provide a photo tour of the second floor for any visitors unable to reach it.

Deaf / Hearing Loss

The 19-minute film "Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story" is open-captioned. Assistive listening devices are available by request.

Assistive listening devices are available by request for the house tour. If you would like to request an American Sign Language interpreter, please notify us two weeks in advance by contacting us.

Blind / Low Vision

Descriptive listening devices are available by request for the 19-minute film "Fighter for Freedom: The Frederick Douglass Story." A tactile statue of Frederick Douglass stands in the visitor center.

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Zoom tour: the home of frederick douglass - free & open to all.

FREE & Open to All

The Home of Frederick Douglass:

Cedar Hill in Anacostia

Friday, February 23, 10:30-11:30 am

An icon of American history, Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was an abolitionist, journalist, and reformer. His words and brave actions continue to shape the ways that we think about race, democracy, and the meaning of freedom. Formerly an enslaved man, Douglass advocated for the abolition of slavery, racial equality, and the right of women to vote. When he wasn't traveling, Douglass resided at his mansion, Cedar Hill, in Anacostia, DC. Enjoy a virtual tour of his home, now r estored to its 1895 appearance and containing original objects. Learn about his life and historic items on view in his home. Our presenter will be Park Ranger Kevin Bryant.

FREE & OPEN TO ALL

The Zoom login information will be sent to confirmed registrants. 

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Frederick Douglass House

Kamal McClarin, an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service , gave a tour of Cedar Hill, the Washington, D.C., home of Frederick Do… read more

Kamal McClarin, an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service , gave a tour of Cedar Hill, the Washington, D.C., home of Frederick Douglass. He displayed artifacts as he talked about the ex-slave who wrote the influential Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , spoke out for women’s rights, and pressed President Abraham Lincoln for the Emancipation Proclamation. close

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Hosting Organization

• C-SPAN | American History TV C-SPAN | American History TV
• Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
• American Artifacts
• American History TV

Airing Details

• Jan 30, 2011 | 8:01am EST | C-SPAN 3
• Jan 30, 2011 | 7:01pm EST | C-SPAN 3
• Jan 30, 2011 | 10:01pm EST | C-SPAN 3
• Feb 05, 2011 | 3:00pm EST | C-SPAN 3
• Feb 06, 2011 | 2:02am EST | C-SPAN 3
• Jun 26, 2011 | 8:04am EDT | C-SPAN 3
• Jun 26, 2011 | 7:04pm EDT | C-SPAN 3
• Jun 26, 2011 | 10:01pm EDT | C-SPAN 3
• Jul 02, 2011 | 3:03pm EDT | C-SPAN 3
• Jul 03, 2011 | 2:01am EDT | C-SPAN 3
• Nov 12, 2011 | 11:29am EST | C-SPAN 3
• Nov 13, 2011 | 6:28pm EST | C-SPAN 3
• Nov 14, 2011 | 7:29am EST | C-SPAN 3

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Walk in Frederick Douglass’ Footsteps around Baltimore

The renowned orator, author, diplomat and adviser to president abraham lincoln spent his formative years in baltimore and shaped the city’s legacy..

Frederick Douglass’ story as an abolitionist and writer was heavily influenced by his time in Baltimore where he worked at the shipyards in Fell’s Point before escaping to freedom in 1838. Later in life, he returned to his roots to continue helping his community. Read on to see how you can literally walk in Douglass’ footsteps in Fell’s Point and celebrate his legacy at Baltimore’s African American and cultural institutions.

Douglass Place

Years after he transformed the nation with his ideas for reformation, Douglass returned to Baltimore to build a row of houses for African American renters—brick-and-mortar examples of his commitment to creating stability and community for African Americans in the years following the Civil War. Once known as Strawberry Alley, Dallas Street was also home to the Fell’s Point church where Douglass worshiped: Strawberry Alley Methodist Church. His “Douglass Place” homes in still stand today, with a commemorative plaque next to the front door where Douglass lived, at 524 S. Dallas Street.

President Street Station

Frederick Douglass is thought to have passed through President Street Station as part of his journey on the Underground Railroad. The station is now the city’s civil war museum, with a special exhibition on the Underground Railroad.

Tour Baltimore’s Civil War Museum in the original President Street Station building.

Happy Alley (Aliceanna & South Durham Streets)

Born into slavery, Douglass was sent to this part of Fell’s Point as a child to serve the family of Hugh Auld. In spite of her husband’s disapproval, Auld’s wife Sophia taught young Frederick the alphabet.

Lancaster Street

Douglass worked in shipbuilding as a young man. During his time at the shipyards of James Beacham and William Gardner, Douglass became a skilled builder and caulker.

28 Thames Street, Fell’s Point

At Nathaniel Knight’s shop at 28 Thames Street, Douglass procured the first book he ever owned, a popular collection of poems and essays called The Columbian Orator.

Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum

A rich, interactive experience for families and history lovers of all ages, this national heritage site recounts the story of Frederick Douglass and his life as a young man in the shipyards in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. The Douglass-Myers museum also celebrates the legacy of Isaac Myers and the founding of the Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company, America’s first African American-owned shipyard.

On the grounds at the entrance of the museum sits a striking, six-foot-tall memorial sculpture of Frederick Douglass. The bronze structure was created by artist Marc Andre Robinson, a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.

The exhibits at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum tell the story of Fell’s Point’s maritime history.

Maryland Center for History and Culture

The Maryland Center for History and Culture features a Civil War exhibit detailing the history of abolition in Maryland and the impact of Frederick Douglass as an activist, abolitionist and national figure. During the Civil War, Douglass acted as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln, and recruited African American soldiers to fight for the Union.

For over 100 years, the Maryland Historical Society has documented the history of the state.

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum

Frederick Douglass is one of many historical legends featured in wax form at the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum . The museum’s exhibits share the story of African American history from the Middle Passage through the Civil War and beyond.

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

Celebrating the legacy of African American Marylanders, the Lewis Museum includes events and exhibitions honoring the life of Frederick Douglass, including historical reenactments of moments from Douglass’ life.

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture has documented the life of Maryland African Americans from 1784 to the present day.

Frederick Douglass Path to Freedom Walking Tour

Take a guided tour of the city from the lens of Douglass’ experience and impact. Learn about the history of the Underground Railroad, immigration and shipbuilding in Baltimore. This one-hour tour is available by appointment only by Baltimore Black Heritage Tours .

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Douglass Home Standard Tour

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Tours

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Need to Know

All visitors must pickup their tour tickets in the visitor center located at 1411 W Street, SE. The free parking lot is at the intersection of W and 15th Streets. Visitors are advised to arrive at least half an hour before your tour time unless you are on the 9:00 tour.

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