A collaborative oral history and outdoor exhibition project, now on view
On view June 18 through Oct. 5, 2026, hometown DC is a community-driven public history project showcasing the voices and lived experiences of District residents through oral history interviews, outdoor installations in all eight wards and two free public events. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, this initiative puts Washingtonians at the heart of the summer’s celebrations, offering an intimate and complex portrait of what it means to call the nation’s capital home in 2026.
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Putting Washingtonians at the heart of the story
While Washington, DC is usually viewed as the seat of the federal government, hometown DC centers the city’s neighborhoods as vibrant and distinctive communities shaped by generations of long-term residents alongside new arrivals. The project is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between four of the city’s leading humanities organizations. With HumanitiesDC leading the way, partners comprise the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the DC History Center and DC Public Library.
As part of HumanitiesDC’s DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC), 21 Washingtonians from a variety of backgrounds gave oral history interviews for the project. Some are relative newcomers to the city, while others are lifelong residents with multi-generational Washington families. All call DC their hometown. One part time capsule, one part memory bank, these interviews were filmed and photographed and will eventually be transcribed and archived.
“hometown DC puts the spotlight on Washington as a leading American city in its own right. Among the many events planned by the federal government, this project ensures that DC’s own stories are also seen and heard.”
— Rebecca Lemos Otero, Executive Director of HumanitiesDC
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A vibrant tapestry of local voices, art and performance
Featuring 16 interactive outdoor cube installations and two free public events, the project invites visitors to explore the new oral histories and the narrators’ stories of arrival, belonging and pride. These narratives are presented in conversation with past oral history interviews from the DCOHC Collection within the People’s Archive at DC Public Library, local art from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Art Bank Collection and historic photographs from the DC History Center. The installations highlight DC's vibrant tapestry of communities, cultures and experiences across all eight Wards.
The cubes are installed at eight DC Public Library locations, with each installation featuring portrait photographs of the project’s narrators and a QR code that links to the oral history playlists so passers-by can access audio clips directly on their devices.
Two free public events will celebrate the project, including Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage, an interactive program on July 11 from 3-5 p.m. at the Anacostia Community Museum featuring Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company. Along with their signature Playback Theater method, founder John Johnson and his cast will use movement, music and drama to turn a selection of hometown DC oral histories into a high-energy, live visual experience.
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Discover hometown DC in your neighborhood
The outdoor installations are free and open to all ages. Neighbors and visitors can explore the cubes all summer long at the following DC Public Library neighborhood locations:
Ward 1: Mount Pleasant Library
Ward 2: Georgetown Library
Ward 3: Chevy Chase Library
Ward 4: Takoma Park Library
Ward 5: Woodridge Library
Ward 6: Southwest Library
Ward 7: Deanwood Library
Ward 8: Bellevue/William O. Lockridge Library
On Sept. 5, the exhibits will be brought together, culminating in a final display at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
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HumanitiesDC: humanitiesdc.org
DC History Center: dchistory.org
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities: dcarts.dc.gov/
DC Public Library: dclibrary.org
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