Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves Cedar Hill, the Anacostia home where abolitionist, writer and orator Frederick Douglass lived from 1877 until his death in 1895. A ranger-led tour takes you through rooms containing family belongings, books and his desk, while the visitor center has an exhibition and a short film about his life. Set high on a hill in southeast Washington, the house also looks out over the city. Reserve a tour ticket ahead, then leave time to explore the grounds and the small building known as the growlery.
Cedar Hill and Douglass’s life
Frederick Douglass lived at Cedar Hill, in Anacostia, from 1877 until his death in 1895. Born enslaved in 1818, he escaped slavery and became an abolitionist, writer and powerful speaker for equal rights. His home gives the story a domestic setting: the rooms and family belongings help visitors understand the life behind his public work.
The house is preserved with furniture, books and other personal items associated with the Douglass family. A desk belonging to Douglass remains in the house, left as it was after his death. The site’s exhibits and guided visits connect the objects to his family life as well as the historical and political work for which he is known.
Start at the visitor center
The visitor center is a useful first stop. It has exhibits about Douglass and a film about his life, along with a gift shop. You can watch the film before continuing to the house on the hill. The visitor center also provides context for the tour, which takes place inside Cedar Hill.
The house is reached by stairs or a ramp. Rangers lead the tour and explain the rooms and their connections to Douglass’s life. The visit can bring together the home’s objects and the wider history of his work as an abolitionist and advocate for equal rights. Timed tickets are used for house tours, and advance reservations are recommended because small tour groups can fill quickly.
Explore the grounds
Cedar Hill’s elevated position gives the grounds a broad view over Washington. Take a moment outside the house to look across the city, then walk around the property. Behind the house is a small structure called the growlery. Douglass used it as a place to write and think, and it is easy to miss if you leave the grounds as soon as the tour ends.
The site is at 1411 W Street SE in Anacostia, southeast of the Anacostia River. The grounds and house make the visit about more than a collection of rooms: the setting on the hill and the separate writing space add context to how Douglass lived and worked at Cedar Hill.
FAQ
Do I need a reservation for the house tour?
Advance reservations for a timed tour are recommended. Walk-in tickets may not be available, and tour groups are small.
Where is the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site?
It is at 1411 W Street SE in the Anacostia neighborhood of southeast Washington, DC.
What should I see at the site?
Begin at the visitor center for the film and exhibits, then tour Cedar Hill with a ranger. Look for Douglass’s desk inside and the growlery behind the house.
