Virtual Tour of the City Museum of Washington, DC

Washington, DC, is already full of museums that celebrate our national heritage. But in May 2003, a new museum that showcases the city’s own heritage will debut. The City Museum of Washington, DC, will be the only museum devoted to the history, neighborhoods and people of the nation’s capital. Visitors will be able to experience DC’s past at the newly restored Carnegie Library building on Mount Vernon Square. In its heyday from 1903 to 1970, the building served as the city’s Central Public Library. The Historical Society of Washington, DC, chose the building — a National Historic Landmark — to house the museum because of its rich past and location. The library is undergoing a $24 million renovation.

In the new, state-of-the-art facility, visitors will be able to relive many of the city’s stories. The first level will feature an enormous satellite-image floor map of Washington, DC, a 150-seat multimedia theater and galleries that highlight the city’s neighborhoods. These galleries offer an introduction and orientation to the city: Newcomers and residents will get an insider’s look at neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Adams Morgan, Shaw, Anacostia and others. On the second floor, visitors will be able to research at the library or immerse themselves in the community with two galleries. The basement will house an archaeology lab, where workshops will be available. For more information about the City Museum of Washington, DC, contact the historical society at (202) 785-2068 or visit <www.hswdc.org>.