The Frederick Douglass Home at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site will be closed to tours beginning on Monday, April 24th. This closure is expected to last through early 2007.
The Douglass Home is entering the final phase of a multi-year restoration project that began in 2004. Beginning in the spring of 2006, wallpaper will be removed from the interior of the building. Mold abatement will take place. A fire protection system will be installed. Interior and exterior painting will occur and new reproduction historic wallpaper will be hung.
The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Visitor Center will remain open. Visitors to the center will have the opportunity to view the park film along with other exhibits about the site. Admission to the visitor center is free and reservations are not required.
The visitor center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning on April 15th, the visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park rangers at the historic site will also be offering interpretive programs in place of the usual tours of the Douglass Home. These programs will begin with a viewing of "Fighter for Freedom," a 17-minute film on the life of Frederick Douglass, followed by a ranger talk on the Douglass Home and its preservation, ending with a ranger-led tour of the grounds of the historic site. The programs will be offered on a daily basis at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. beginning on April 24th. Reservations for these programs are encouraged, especially for groups of five or more people, and can be made by calling (202) 426-5961.
