Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Central Public Library | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 Carnegie Library building, located at Mount Vernon Square, houses the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
|
|
| Location: | Mount Vernon Sq., 8th and K Streets, NW. Washington, D.C. |
| Architect: | Ackerman & Ross |
| Architectural style(s): | Beaux-Arts architecture |
| Added to NRHP: | December 3, 1969 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 69000290 |
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., is an educational foundation and museum dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of Washington, D.C. The society provides lectures, exhibits, classes, community events, and other educational programs as part of its mission. In addition, the society's Kiplinger Research Library houses a collection of books, maps, photographs, and other materials relevant to the history of the city.
Located in the center of Mount Vernon Square in Washington, the society occupies a Beaux-Arts building built by Andrew Carnegie in 1902 (one of his many Carnegie libraries), originally used as the District of Columbia Public Library. The building is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday. Visitors are welcome to tour current exhibits and use the society's library.
Prior to the reorganization of the Historical Society, the building housed the City Museum of Washington, D.C.- devoted to the rich history of Washington, D.C. The New York firm of Ackerman and Ross was contracted to design and develop the overall concept for the museum, including a state-of-the-art multimedia show called Washington Stories. The museum included three permanent galleries, a temporary gallery, and a cutting-edge theatrical multimedia show. The goal was to create a truly 21st century museum that combines new technology and interactivity — making it fun and easy to learn about Washington’s history — with the historic meaning of the early 20th century building housing it. That museum closed in November 2004 due to financial difficulties.
[edit] External links
- The Historical Society of Washington, DC
- "History of the Carnegie Library", Historical Society of Washington, DC
- "A Last Day with Many First Visits" (Washington Post, November 29, 2004)
- "Former City Museum Will House National Music Center" (District of Columbia Mayor's Office News Releases, March 30, 2006)
