Discover the vibrant stories of Washington, DC through our current exhibits. Each display invites you to engage with the rich tapestry of our city’s history.
Hometown DC, a new oral history exhibition on view June 18 – October 5, 2026, spotlights the voices and lived experiences of Washingtonians through interviews, free public events, and outdoor installations across all eight wards of the city. Led by HumanitiesDC in partnership with the DC History Center, DC Public Library, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the community-driven project celebrates DC as a city of vibrant neighborhoods and personal stories during the nation’s 250th anniversary commemorations. The exhibition features interactive displays at neighborhood libraries throughout the summer and fall, culminating in a final showcase at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library starting September 15.
An interactive exhibition for all ages, Class Action showcases the teachers, principals, parents, students, and community advocates who have fought to maintain DC’s legacy of Black educational excellence. Vintage furniture, class photos, and yearbooks invite hands-on exploration of what it means to grow up and go to school in the nation’s capital.
The North Gallery’s DC Hall of History engages visitors with a 40-foot panoramic timeline of DC’s history. This introduction to the major moments in our collective past yields surprising facts and makes important connections.
With 16 large reproductions of evocative historical images, learn about its architecture and its service to the community in the vaulted lower-level room originally designed for parking bicycles. The Carnegie Library building is listed in the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites and in the National Register of Historic Places.