The Humanities Council office is located in a small row house at 925 U Street, NW just across the street from the African American Civil War Memorial. It's hard to discern a home from its present-day interior, but it's impossible for us to forget that, at one time, it was one. At last year's DC Community Heritage Project House History Workshop, we learned that our office building was: 

• Built in 1878;
• Owned by Mary A. Kuehling;
• Built for an estimated $3000 (roughly $67,000 in 2010 dollars); 
• And occupied as a semi-detached family home.

This brief investigation was intellectually satisfying, but for homeowners or anyone interested in architectural history, it could be a starting point for a holistic house history that could contribute to a greater understanding of Washington, DC's urban development.

This year's DC Community Heritage Project House History Workshop will guide community historians, of any skill or knowledge level, through the DC Public Library Washingtoniana Division's collection. Participants will learn how to research the history of their own home or any other historical property through sessions on:

• DC Maps - Led by historian and editor of the H-DC listserv Matthew Gilmore
• Historic Building Permit Database - Led by historian, author, and tour leader, Brian Kraft.
• Photo Archives - Led by Photo Librarian at the DCPL Washingtoniana Division, Faye Haskins.
• Microfilm Records - Led by historian and archivist Jerry McCoy of the DCPL Washingtoniana Division
• Neighborhood Context/DC Digital Museum - Led by Marie Maxwell historian and project director for the Truxton Circle Neighborhood Geneology Project, and Humanities Council of Washington, DC curator of digital collections, Jasper Collier.
• Tour of the Kiplinger Research Library at the Historical Society - Led by the Director of the Kiplinger Research Library Jennifer Krafchik

House History Day will consist of two identical workshops. Please register for ONLY ONE of the workshops. Although the workshops are free and open to the public, we ask that you register ONLY if you are certain that you will be able to attend as space is limited and there is almost always a waitlist for the program.