For the last year and a half, you have heard from us about the immense challenges facing history and humanities work in the District and nationwide. Big moments deserve bold ideas, as does our city.
Today, we’re excited to share a bold idea of our own: the DC History Center and HumanitiesDC have entered into an agreement to merge and create a new organization. While there is important work ahead, we want to welcome you along for the journey. We expect the merger to be formalized this fall.
This decision comes after thoughtful planning, conversation, and collaboration between our boards, staff, and advisors.
For decades, the DC History Center and HumanitiesDC advanced complementary missions. As our organizations have evolved and rebranded, our partnership has grown through collaborations like the DC Oral History Collaborative, the DC History Conference, and hometown DC. By joining forces, we’ll build on those strengths, creating greater impact than either organization could achieve alone.
This union is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something DC has never had before: a single nonprofit dedicated to preserving the city’s history, celebrating its culture, funding the humanities, and helping Washingtonians better understand our city and one another.
Just as important, this merger is about preserving what you already love. The programs, collections, grants, events, publications, educational resources, and community partnerships that have defined our organizations will become part of a stronger, more connected future. Familiar programs, faces, and traditions will continue to exist alongside exciting new opportunities.
We know you will have questions, so we created a page to answer them. If you have an urgent question not answered here, reach out to us at info@dchistory.org. Over the coming months, we’ll be providing regular updates and opportunities for you to learn more, get answers, and help shape this exciting next chapter.
Whether you’ve visited an exhibit, attended a program, received a grant, participated in the DC History Conference, explored our collections, supported our work financially, or simply believed in the importance of history and the humanities, you are part of the story we’re building together. Thank you for standing with us at this exciting beginning.
There is much more to share, and we can’t wait to build this new organization with you—for the vibrant, storied city we all love. In the months ahead, we’ll announce our new name, our vision for the future, and ways you can participate in this historic moment. Stay tuned—we’re just getting started.
DC History Center + HumanitiesDC’s first staff retreat at the Heurich House Museum, June 2026.