Celebrate the bicentennial of Frederick Douglass's birth with the National Park Service and its community partners on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!

Join us in the Year of the Anacostia as we celebrate the Anacostia River and its surrounding communities. Find Your Park at the national historic site dedicated to the “Lion of Anacostia” during the 200th-anniversary celebration of Douglass’s birth. This year's programs and activities will honor the legacy and activism of Frederick Douglass and his connection to the Anacostia community in which his historic home lies. 

The weekend festivities will offer visitors the opportunity to step inside the world of Frederick Douglass and experience how he lived his life as a global activist and revolutionary leader. There will be community lectures, dramatic performances, hands-on kids activities and musical performances.

Programs and events are being held at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and the Anacostia Arts Center. 

• Hear remarks at Saturday’s opening ceremony from Kenneth Morris, Douglass’s third great-grandson, on the importance of his ancestor’s legacy. Learn the history of Douglass’s journey through life and of the people who were instrumental to him, from award-winning author and historian David Blight on Saturday and Sunday and from Leigh Fought, renowned historian and scholar, on Saturday.
• Catch a glimpse of a rare piece of history with a temporary exhibit of seldom seen Douglass artifacts, including his Bible and cherished souvenirs from his international travels.
• Travel back in time with living history actors dressed as Douglass and be captivated by dramatic performances from skilled actors and student orators performing excerpts from Douglass’s acclaimed speeches.
• Jr. Rangers will also experience a unique adventure with a bicentennial themed scavenger hunt that offers a limited edition bicentennial Jr. Ranger badge, plus many more activities that the whole family can enjoy.   

To continue the bicentennial commemoration, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site will offer special events and educational programming at the site and at local schools throughout 2018 and early 2019, to foster awareness and appreciation of Douglass’s accomplishments.

All programs and events are free and open to the public. Public transportation is highly recommended for the weekend kickoff event, parking will be difficult to find. A free shuttle will be provided from the Anacostia Metro Station to the historic site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, and from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 18.

Walking, biking or using public transportation are the best ways to attend this event. Parking will be difficult to find. For more directions and more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm

Image: NPS

Image: NPS