Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Plenty of free parking in the lot. Free admission. I had to wait an hour and a half for the next tour. Make sure you go on one of the days they have tours. Very pretty house, very pretty view, amazing person. You will want to do a little bit of reading up on him if you are not familiar. Although the movie they have in the visitor center gives a pretty good overview. But he was so much more than a short movie can convey. He was actively supportive of human rights and the women's rights cause also. Worth visiting his house.

Beautiful property with great views, fascinating history, and friendly and passionate staff. Would recommend coming for the informative tours that are given several times daily.

Wonderful guide and of course incredibly interesting topic and location. Well worth the time capsule nature of the place right in the middle of modern times.

The tour is the best part for sure! It’s so well done, I was very happy with the presentation by Sharon. A lot of the items in the home were owned by Fredrick Douglas. The visitors center is small, but the video is quite good. There’s a small gift shop as well.

Book your tickets in advance. We lucked out and half of a party ahead of us did not show up but if that didn’t happen we would’ve missed out. Now that that is out of the way. This is a must visit location. Plan about two hours and get a glimpse into one of the most preserved collections of national artifacts in the home of a historic figure. The tour guide was AMAZING and helped us understand what the daily life of Frederick Douglas was within his home.

Tour is about an hour. Recommended to get there 30 min early so you can view the 20 min video about his life. Pick up ticket at Visitor Center. Free parking onsite.

A little off the beaten path of DC, you'll find this gem. Its an interesting history of a fascinating man and his family. I recommend the tour as the visitors center is just a movie and a few displays. You have to have tickets to go into his home with a NPS guide. Most of the items in the home were his. The site is only open 3 days a week so check in advance. They do have parking and a nearby bus stop. We walked from the Metro. It was about a 15 minute walk. The tickets are free, but if you purchase ahead there is a minimal processing fee. The Growlery (his outdoor study) was not open when we went.

2024. We received an informal tour by an awesome, very knowledgeable park ranger. I visited Cedar Hill about 10 years ago and came back to remember Frederick Douglass, the Lion of Anacostia. For me, Douglass is a true humanitarian, and my favorite civil rights icon. His life was in peril each time he traveled, and spoke the truth about slavery, equal rights and freedom.

This was Frederick Douglass's home at the end of his life. What he considered his true home is back in Rochester, which is why he's buried there. BUT this is one of the most intact historical homes/sites you can find (besides maybe the Truman house, which is 100 percent intact). Over 70 percent of the artifacts in the house are original to Douglass. The visitors center is small, not crazy impressive, but they do have a death mask of Douglass, which is poignant. The house is up on a high hill, the third highest hill in DC. The good news is, you have a pretty cool view of the capitol. The bad news is, you have to either climb a ton of steps or climb a long ramp to get there. So if you're mobility impaired, it might be tough. Tour is free, but you must reserve a spot. Ranger was super enthusiastic. We didn't learn Douglass's whole life story, but we learned a lot--where and how he was born, how he escaped enslavement to freedom, his relationship with his first wife (the relationship with his second wife is glossed over a little, but addressed). We learn of his work and political positions in Washington as well as some about his family life. I took my tour at 4 PM in later September. It's important to note that this house has MINIMAL electricity. Very few spots have lighting, so you have to rely on natural lighting. So by the time my group (which was small, like five people) entered at 4 PM, many of the rooms were growing dark. So plan accordingly. In working your way through the Washington DC history circuit, this is definitely a worthwhile, albeit a little out of the way, stop (like four miles outside city center, have to use a Lyft/uber/car). Tons of parking on site.

Cool NPS site. Building and grounds very well maintained. Guided tour was very informative. Good junior ranger program. Worth checking out.

Such a beautiful house with a fascinating tour of a great American statesman. The tour was insightful as was the house and many mementos and furnishings and a well done film about Douglass. Come during the day hours using a Lyft or drive - I found convenient parking easily. A don't miss spot for tourists!

So glad I looked up how to register for tickets in advance of coming to DC. There were a lot of folks disappointed they could not get inside the historic home that day. I appreciated how nicely everything was preserved. Educational film before the home tour and then modern info area with small gift area where I bought bookmarks. Incredibly valuable lessons here definitely worth a visit

Best historical tour I have been to in all that iI have been to. The grounds and home were something to see. Our tour guide, Kevin, was the best. Energetic, compassionate, knowledgeable, and loved where he was and what he does. I will be back with friends and family to appreciate for themselves. Lazar

I haven't visited this site, but living in Rochester, New York, the resting place of Frederick Douglass, I wanted to share a few pictures for visitors and historians. Rochester has several monuments around the city in his memory and honor. Along with a bridge named after him and Susan B. Anthony. Douglas was born in 1818 and died in 1895. His resting place is Mount Hope cemetery. He was the most famous black man in the 19th century. He was a social reformer, abolitionist,orator,writer and statesman. Among some of his famous quotes, there's one that I have always liked. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress".

Very cool piece of history in the heart of South East DC. It's free to do a tour and the tour only lasts about an hour. You get to understand some really cool facts about Frederick Douglass's life and see some items he actually he used in his home. The house is well preserved and the view of DC from his house is GORGEOUS. A few tips: - call ahead to make sure there's enough space in a given tour. - the last available tour is at 3:30 pm (even though it closes at 5). I watched a few families get turned away - if you have a party of 10 or more...you need to make a reservation in advance - plenty of parking so don't worry about driving - it's not handicap accessible. There are steep stairs to get to the house and no way to get to the top floor if you're in a wheelchair (just FYI) It's a quick free tour that really gives you a glimpse into his life and well worth the visit.

You can't live in DC and NOT visit the Frederick Douglass House. It's part of our city and country's history and your visit will inspire you to fight for freedom and equality for all. Here's why you need to visit: 1) It's open every day except Christmas Day and offers five tours each day, 7 days a week. Signing up online in advance is recommended as each tour slot is capped at 10 people and costs $1.50 per ticket. Tour times each day are 9AM, 12:15PM, 1:15PM, 3PM, and 4PM led by a ranger (National Park Services runs the historic site). Tours last 30 minutes. 2) The location is great! It's in SE DC on a hill with a beautiful view of the city and its famous monuments. Even though you're in the middle of the city, you feel like you're escaping for an hour. 3) The staff are friendly and parking is free. Once you park, follow the signs to the visitors center where you will watch a movie about Douglass' life, see a few small exhibits, and shop in the site's store. Then you'll walk up the hill to the house. The only way to get in is on an official tour where you'll walk through the house learning about Douglass' life. After the tour, visit The Growlery in the back yard before walking down to your car. 4) Take the time to enjoy the nature, history, and find the sacred bench on the property. I won't spoil the fun, but if you find the bench, leave your name in the journal underneath. This is a must do for all visitors to the city!

It's probably been well over twenty years since I last dropped into the Frederick Douglass House on a school trip, but it hasn't changed much, which is kind of a good thing. Indeed, it's one of the better preserved historical sites you're likely to see, as the tour explains that the family consciously kept it so after the man's death. It's on a high hill that gives panoramic city views, which are partially obstructed by trees (not that I want the trees removed). It is a bit of work to get up there (there is a ramp if stairs are an issue), but it's worth it. For the non-locals (I write these reviews for tourists), the neighborhood surrounding it has a reputation for being dangerous, which as in most cases is a mix of narrative and fact. The crime statistics are what they are, but at the hours tours are offered, it's fine to walk from the Metro. It is an interesting historic neighborhood; the nearby Anacostia Community Museum is another good stop for those wanting to learn more about DC localities. The history itself is excellent; this was an interesting man, and such a focused topic allows for some depth. Douglass was in some sense what we describe today as a "pundit", but I doubt there is anyone commentating at his level on contemporary cable TV. Tours tend to fill (advance tickets online are only a $1 fee and are definitely advisable most of the year), and it's a small house so there are only a few people on each tour. Particularly for the many visitors that come to us specifically for the African American Museum or the MLK Memorial, this is perhaps less well-known, but no less worthwhile of a stop.

Don't be dissuaded by the neighborhood, this museum is about overcoming ones circumstances. The site is preserved exactly how it was lived in with original artifacts, trees planted by Frederick Douglas still growing in the landscape. The view of DC is unique giving a perspective that should be understood. The best thing about it was the tour and everything the guides knew about him. In the gift shop you can find even more resources to learn from.

The Frederick Douglass House is an extraordinary gem nestled in the heart of S.E. DC. Today, the National Park Service commemorated Frederick Douglass' 200th birthday with remarks from Mayor Bowser, and a key note address from the third great-grandson of Frederick Douglass, Mr. Kenneth B. Morris, Jr. There were various speakers, several selections from the Army Field Band Brass Quintet, non-stop tours of Frederick Douglass' home and many fun activities for children. If you're visiting Washington, DC or live in the DMV and have never visited this landmark, put the Frederick Douglass house on your Bucket List, then make plans to check it off asap! You will not be disappointed! Tip: Please wear comfy shoes! There is no place for you to rest while touring the inside of the house however, the National Park Service does allow visitors to rest outside on the porch.

The Frederick Douglass house was THE highlight of my visit to Washington D.C.. Mr. Douglass is one of the greatest Americans and I was eagerly wanting to see the place he called home in the latter part of his life. I was not disappointed as everything is pretty much how he left it. The ranger, a young man, whose name I did not get, gave a very good tour and was patient as I asked a lot of questions and took a lot of pictures. Compared to the crowds and lines at all the other monuments and museums in D.C., this is like a well-kept secret, as only my wife and I and a woman with her two children, were on the 9AM tour. What a treat! One reviewer said to skip the visitor's center, but that would be a mistake as the cane Mrs. Lincoln gave to Mr. Douglass after the President's assassination, is in a glass case there, as well as the death mask and cast of Mr. Douglass' hand that were made after his death in the very house. It would be a shame to miss seeing these items. As far as getting there, another reviewer said to take a cab. My wife and I are firm believers in public transportation, so we took the Metro instead. It was very convenient to take, it takes you right to Anacostia and then a short bus ride takes you right to the house. The bus driver was kind enough to let us know when to get off. You do need to walk about a half mile back to the bus station, but we didn't feel we were in any danger at any time. I guess it's up to your comfort level. As another reviewer stated the view from the house IS spectacular as you can see the Washington Monument and the Capitol. I highly recommend visiting the Douglass house on your next visit to D.C..

To write this review I did a tally of my visits over the past few years. I've been no less than 12 times--less than I thought. Any way, I honestly feel like I could lead a tour myself, at this point. So here is my long overdue review of Frederick Douglass' house on Cedar Hill. The visit begins with a video about the life of Frederick Douglass. Yes it is decades old but very informative. Younger audiences and sticklers for makeup artistry may find the video laughable but I like it. So much so that while trying to watch the video from home I found a longer version of it on YouTube. The title is Frederick Douglass: An American Life. With the video. I've watched it after the tour once (this all depends on timing) since I'd just made it in time. I've watched the video and left to do the tour another day because the tours were full and even skipped the video like my most recent visit. With the tours, I prefer and would try to go with a smaller group. That or booking the entire tour with your own party of 10. My favorite tour was a friend of mine, me and the tour guide. The guide was able to go into depth and detail and the tour really had an intimate feel with everyone on the same page. I also recommend this site for children, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn American history and to see it visually. I love that element but I am perfectly fine with say, seeing children on the 3:00 tour and saying: "Nevermind, I'll try my luck at 3:30," and spend the time walking the grounds. I feel like some of the profoundness of the site is skipped over or simplified for the youth and I also don't want to spend my tour trying not to frown when I hear, "Did they have pizza then?" With the guides, I must say that they run the show. I'm giving the Four Star rating due to my last visit. My last tour guide was very knowledgeable but was lacking in energy. An energetic guide, and I don't mean an animated guide. I mean someone who is engaging and not simply answering questions but fostering debate--that is what I love. It's not about knowing everything but hay que involucrar a la gente. So that was my first review of Frederick Douglass' house on Cedar Hill. I have learned something new each and every tour. I really have. And this past time they had The Growlery open so that was cool. I will be back soon I'm sure.

We wanted to get an early start to the few days we had in DC so we selected the 9 a.m. tour. We reserved our tickets online at just $1.50 each. The confirmation email stated that you must arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time, because I'm an early bird I was there shortly after 8. By 8:40 a.m. a Ranger came to open up the main gates and informed us that someone would be there momentarily to begin our tour. Promptly at 9 a.m. they opened the doors (so don't bother going early). The tour begins at the Visitor Information Center where you view a 20 minute video about Frederick Douglass' life. It's a great way to start the tour because it gives a detailed overview of his life and works. Excited about the tour of the house we decided to return to the Information Center afterwards to check out the books at the gift shop and other informational material. We mounted the many steps leading to his house and was greeted by our tour guide. Our tour guide provided a wealth of knowledge, giving us information about the simplest details in the house that were of great significance to Mr. Douglass. We also had the opportunity to learn (tour guide included) about the use of some of the aged items in the house since a member of our tour group spoke about her personal experiences having used similar household 'appliances' in her youth. It's truly a magnificent home and a great pillar of history in the Historic Anacostia area. The history extends far beyond the artifacts/objects you'll see, even the walls tells a story about Mr. Douglass' interaction and impact on individuals and nations beyond the US. While the view from the patio is refreshing, the range of vision from the second floor inside the house is amazing, as you can see DC, Virginia and Maryland, something our tour guide noted might have had an impact on Mr. Douglass' decision to move there. Excellent tour for kids and adults. Definitely worth including in your "DC sightseeing list"

This is definitely on my list of "must-do" spots in DC. In my opinion, it's truly a hidden gem, especially when it comes to local black history. So much history there and the tour guide has a wealth of knowledge and presentation skills that makes the tour come to life. The Frederick Douglass tour is so worth it!

Really enjoyed this tour which was included as a special visit with the African American DC City Tour. We always learn about Frederick Douglass in school but it was nice to be up close and personal to his life. I would suggest seeing the video first in the welcome center if that option is available to you. It was nice to get a reminder and learn some new things about him before touring his actual home. So I have to say when I walked in the house.....let's just say, I was transported back in time and could feel that energy. Very impressed with how they preserved the property and was even happier they managed to add central air because it was beyond hot this particular day. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and open to all questions. It was nice to see the items from that time, their "fridge", the "washer" and "dryer", their irons. The house has a really nice view from atop the hill and I can only imagine how it must have looked before highways. Just the thought of how they had to transport water up all those steps back then is mind boggling. I also enjoyed seeing his "man cave" in the back of the property where he did some of his writing. We visited several prominent locations as part of the African American DC City Tour and this was one of our favorite. Definitely check with the operator though because this was a special stop on that tour and is not offered all the time.

The only site next to the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum kept in pristine condition in this area. I love this piece of history-- so close to home, close to the heart. It's open to the public and easily accessible. I've only done self guided tours. The movie before the tour is profound. It's a site I have to visit every so often and take visitors to as a proud Washingtonian (of Anacostia!)

I always read about the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site on the list of things for locals to do in DC. Because I was in Anacostia for Yelp! 10-year anniversary party, I decided to visit other places in Anacostia. I'm glad I did. I did some advanced work and reserved tickets online. Even though the tour itself is free, there was a $1.50 fee for reserving the tickets. I look at this as a donation to the National Park Service, so I was fine with it. I'm very glad I did reserve the tickets, because while they do except walk-ins, the tour was full when we arrived. I've been to a lot of these old historic homes, and the best part about this one was massive amounts of air conditioning! I don't know how much of the house they needed to change, but having a cool environment allowed me to focus on what the tour guide was saying instead of being uncomfortably hot in a stifling old house. As was explained to me, there are a lot of original artifacts in this house because of the caretakers; I enjoyed that because seeing "replicas" is not as fun or interesting to me. They had the tambourine that Frederick Douglass used at church in the 1880s - that is pretty cool. The actual visitor center is rather negligible. They had a video, but if you end up taking the tour, you don't need to watch the video. We basically only stayed at this house for the tour, and then left. There is adequate parking. Overall, I'm glad I went here, and it's an area of DC that I rarely venture into. The views from the hilltop are great!

Frederick Douglass's home is well worth the visit. You'll learn a huge amount about Frederick Douglass, you'll see this beautiful mansion from the 1870s, and you'll get a great view of DC from the front porch which is atop the ridge line. Like all Park Service sites, this one is free of charge. Why not 5 stars? 1. The tour is guided and the other people on our tour stretched it out with way more questions about obscure stuff than we could bear. ("Could you tell us more about the wallpaper?") 2. The film in the center must be at least 30 years old and is in serious need of a re-make.

Finally made a visit to this place and I must say it's totally worth it. I came with a group a month ago during black history month. Trying to make a reservation was a bit of a nuisance because I was getting the run around, but it all worked out nicely in the end. This is very affordable ($1.50 per ticket). The park rangers were very nice and knowledgeable about the site. There is an adjacent parking lot so parkinb was easy. I learned so much about Frederick Douglass and I would encourage anyone to visit this place

Today was truly breathtaking. The energy of the home will really move you. I didn't want to post too many pictures to give it away, but I promise you that you will love it! Our tour guide Sharon was amazing and she's a DC native.

Excellent gem well preserved thanks to his 2nd wife. They have an informative film that's appropriate for the period. Not sure why ppl complain @ it bring old but it's a good synopsis of his path from slave to free man. House is in the hill with great views. Parking lot and if u go for 1st tour just show up @ 9 when they open. Guides r helpful & have wealth of info.

Awesome tour!!! Our tour guide was great. The house is in excellent condition. We even learned a few things we didn't know. Do skip it!

We paid in advance for 9:00 tour reservations. It's 9:20, raining, the gates are all locked, and no one is answering the phone.

Everything about this experience is amazing. Frederick Douglass is one of the most important figures in American history, and his vision of civil rights and women's empowerment resonates just as much today as ever. His home reflects and channels the commitment, excellence, and loving way in which he lived his life, showing him to be a dedicated, passionate, intellectual and cultivated individual. The home, aside from its place in history as the final abode of a great figure, is also a beautiful, gracious place which provides insight into how people lived in an earlier era. One thing that always thrills me is that they even have his violin and books on display! The facilities are excellent, as are the film and gift shop. All staff are welcoming, well informed and enthusiastic. I have visited numerous times as this is always a 'must do' on my list for visitors to DC. Although away from the beaten DC tourist path, it is easy to access...nothing but good things to say about this beloved historical site. Be sure to make your reservations in advance on their official site as the capacity is limited, given the nature of this precious historical site, and during certain times of the year it is over subscribed.

I love taking out of town guests to visit Frederick Douglass' house. It is amazing how beautiful his house was back in the day. Tours are $1.50 which is a steal. Take your family and friends you will not be disappointed.

Came here without doing a reservation for the tour, so there were very limited things to see and few explanation to the exhibits around the ground. Lesson learned: Reserve a spot on the tour in advance! The surrounding neighborhood is also developing, and there wasn't much else to do in the area.

Bummed. Would have loved to see this from the inside. We (gf and I) arrived with plenty of time, around 1pm on a cold day and were told we would not be able to see the house and do the tour, at all (open till 5). But we could check out the grounds. The views are nearly 5 star but coming from quite a distance, it is not so cool to hear you can not see, especially since there is no indication on the site that you need to reserve ahead. We've gotten into the Archives, Library of Congress and Supreme Court with no reservation, spur of the moment, and those see tons more people, no issue. I mean the tours consist of about a dozen people, according to the tour list the lady showed me -- there are not many people who come 'round in the average hour span or so, you can't add two more? Truly a bummer in that regard. One reviewer, JK, mentioned some negative things about the neighborhood and she could not be more incorrect. Anacostia is an up and coming neighborhood with some true gems to view for anyone willing to make the effort to see and lots of funding being poured into the area. As long as you are aware, it is not an issue to walk around to the major sites during the day, or even explore a little. She exagateres too much. In my visits to the neighborhood (a small slice of Southeast, east of the river) I have had more strangers giving me genuine friendly "hellos" in half a day that I do from all the stuck ups around where I live in upper NW in a year....Please don't discourage people with your irresponsible reviews, JK..not everywhere can be Dupont, but they can still be nice or better yet, with character.

This is on of the true rare jewels tucked away in the heart of South East DC. In comparison if you go to Mt. Vernon AKA George Washington's home, you really cant get close to any of the cool artifacts. That's not the case in Frederick Douglas's home. The thing I really enjoyed was seeing how this man who lived through one of the ugliest and toughest times in U.S. history was able to rise to the occasion. He lived a full life, he was loved by many on both sides of the color line. A true great glimpse of American History! There is even a tea set that was given to him by Queen Elizabeth. Again this is a must see. I would suggest going for a visit on a sunny day as they don't turn the lights on in his home to preserve the color of the furnishings Cheers!!!

Loved this place!! If you have two hours to spare and want to learn something about American history this is your place. I suggest that you call figure out the tour times, then come early to watch the short video of his life about 17 to 20 min long. Look at his quotes. Make your way up to the house, take a sec to look out at the neighborhood. Enjoy the house tour it's great!!

Been wanting to see this one for a while, and it's a good excuse to explore Anacostia. As with any national park, it's well preserved and worth the trip. You need a ticket to tour the house, but it doesn't strike me that hoards of people come through so you can probably just walk-in. The house has many original items and is surprisingly large given the time of its construction. The view from the porch is spectacular. I especially enjoyed the 1970s video they show before the house tour.

I arrived almost at closing time and they stayed open for me! I got an excellent one on one tour of the house and the visitors center! I felt honored to walk around his house! It's bigger than George Washington's mansion. A must see.

The house and grounds are absolutely spectacular. Restored recently and with painstaking precision! A joy to visit. Tour guides are knowledgeable and friendly. Hours are convenient! Free visitors parking is abundant and right on the property, and a bus line runs right out front. 1 issue: the visitor's center is below ground and I can appreciate that part- to keep the house & property as OG 19th century as possible. BUT its dated, small, and smells like urine and school kids. Skip the center until NPS sends some cash their way to upgrade it.

A gem in DC. Such an important and meaningful place to visit. I'm so happy to have gone and paid my respects to this great man. Sobering yet inspiring and hopeful. Our guide Kevin Bryant was exceptional. He is clearly very passionate about his work, displayed the utmost respect for Mr. Douglass, presenter difficult material in a sensitive and articulate manner appropriate for adults and children, and seriously knew the answer to every question they was asked of him! He was energetic, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and passionate about Mr. Douglass and his cause. Thank you Kevin for making our visit so meaningful and educational. I highly recommend visiting and donating money to help keep it running, as the tour is free.

It was cool. There were only 10 people allowed on a tour. You are not allowed in the house unless you have a tour. There was an amazing view though.

I really enjoyed the tour of the house. It is very well-preserved and is a beautiful home. Over 70% of the furnishings actually belonged to Mr. Douglas. The ranger was very knowledgeable and the tour was interesting. The visitor center had an informative video as well. I highly recommend making a reservation for the tour by booking online a day in advance. There aren't that many tours per day and they fill up quickly. You are not allowed to enter the house unless you are on the tour.

This was a great family visit. It's an true gem that has been preserved very well with the majority of the items displayed being originals. If you arrive 20 minutes before your actual tour time, you will see a great film that gives an overview of Frederick Douglass' life from slavery to freedom. If you arrive to late to see it, you can view it after the tour. The house sits on top of a hill with wonderful views of the city. There's a small museum that sits next to the house. The park ranger provided a hugely informative tour and made it of interest to all ages.

Time to get a history lesson in for the day in DC! So I took the kids to the famous Fredrick Douglas house. There is parking for this site which is plus, esp. for DC. If you book your tickets in advance (online) it is $1.00 per person( and there is a fee if you reserve and don't make it). If you just drop in for a tour it is free, just have to hope they have slots. We had a 9:00am tour, which was the first tour of the day for Saturday. When we arrived on the raining Saturday, at 8:30am (because we were told to arrive 30 minutes prior to our tour), we were waiting outside with one employee in the rain because the employee who opened the doors had not made it there yet. Had I known we could arrive at 9am, I would have stopped and got coffee. Finally, 30 minutes later the employee with the key opened the door and we went in. We were told we could just go to the movie room. We were closed into the movie room, and we looked around at the different photos and information in the room about Fredrick Douglass. Finally after a few minutes we watched an informative 15 minute short film that went through the life of Fredrick Douglas and his importance in history. After the movie we were told to head up the hill and someone would meet us at the house to give us our tour. We walked up the hill and stood out the door for a while and no one came. We finally decided to knock on Mr. Douglass' door and someone came to the door and let us in. Our tour took about 35 minutes or so. We were lucky to have a private tour that day and our tour guide was pretty good. Majority of the artifacts in the house are Mr. Douglass' because his second wife worked to preserve his legacy right after he died. The house is very nice and in good shape for the era it was built it in. After we got done exploring the house we went back down the hill to the main office and the historic site. You can look at a few more artifacts here or purchase a souvenir. I had a few more questions for the park police at the main building and they gave us more interesting facts about Mr. Douglass and his family. This was an amazing history lesson and I suggest this field trip to everyone if you are nearby.

A tip for getting here if you don't have a car: During the summer on the weekends, there is a shuttle from the National Mall to the Anacostia Community Museum and to this site. I arrived at around 3:45 pm without a ticket and luckily there was one ticket left. I would not advise that you do this! You can reserve tix online or by phone, I think, but they cost $1.50 each. I suppose you could also show up earlier in the day and hope that you arrive in time. I checked out the info in the visitors' center. I had a few minutes to watch the film they have going in there. I saw it near the end and learned that Mr. Douglass' second marriage was interracial and that he worked on womens' rights in addition to anti-slavery and civil rights work. I also checked out the exhibits -- a timeline and a bunch of his quotes. There might be other stuff in there but I didn't have too much time. I went up to his house and admired the views from there -- you can see the Washington Monument and Capitol. I think it's 87 steps up and I think there's also a ramp or alternate route up. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. There were a bunch of people on the tour -- 15 or so -- so it felt pretty crowded. We saw the formal parlor, his study area, the guestrooms, his room. I learned about his wallpaper in his formal parlor (he chose a palm tree theme to reflect his status as the Ambassador to Haiti), that he spoke a bunch of languages, that his first wife helped him escape from slavery, etc. When I was in 3rd grade, I remember dressing up as Frederick Douglass and doing a presentation on his life. I thought that I actually knew stuff about him but I hadn't remembered anything (or I didn't know much of anything about him, in the first instance). Visiting his house and learning more about him and how remarkable he is has definitely piqued my interest to learn even more!

An outstanding, and unfortunately often overlooked, place to visit. Before your tour, which costs a paltry $1.50, you watch a video about the life of Frederick Douglas in the Visitors' Center. The film is old and seems exactly like what the National Parks Service would produce, but it is still a great video and you come to appreciate just how towering a figure Frederick Douglass was. The gift shop is very slight, so don't expect to need to stock up on souvenirs. After the video, a Park Ranger will take you up the hill to the house. Be advised that the hill is steep and tall, so be prepared for a climb. Once you make it to the top of the hill, you'll find it well worth it. Frederick Douglass, a former escaped slave, had one hell of a view. I enjoyed imaging Frederick Douglass taking in that view, reflecting on his life and laughing at how far he'd come. If his isn't a success story, I don't know what is. Later in the day, I visited Mount Vernon, George Washington's historic home. The juxtaposition between the two sites could not have been more stark. Without a doubt, Frederick Douglass' home was a better site. Mount Vernon has nothing on the simple elegance of Frederick Douglass, a man so intelligent that many refused to believe he could have been a runaway slave. A man who, while being beaten by his owner, turned around to return the favor. I can't help but smile at the audacity of his entire life.

This was the absolute highlight of our trip. First, the tour guide rocked. He was very personable and knew his stuff. I was very moved while there and I could tell others were as well. We took the train there and decided to walk the 3/4 mile to the site. I do not recommend that. Spend the money to take a cab. The area is very impoverished, the worst I've seen and I was frightened at times. No one gave us any trouble, however.

Great little gem in the middle of the city. The visitor center is small but really informative. The grounds are nice and quiet, you can imagine how it looked 100 years ago with a great view of the City, Anacostia River, and landscape. Lots of info packed in to small spaces. Glad I went.

Sign up for the free tour of the house. Our tour guide John was the best. His depth of knowledge, his captivating presentation skills and his enthusiasm for learning and teaching made the tour so worthwhile. We were so glad we ventured away from the normal tourist attractions to this very interesting tour.

I'm not even that much of an American history lover but visiting this house, with the amazing tour from the ranger, was a highlight of my visit to DC. The ranger did a great job of putting Douglass' accomplishments in context and seemed completely conversant with a wide range of aspects of his life and the building when questions came up.

This was a wonderful tour. The house is well maintained. The tour which is guided was very informative. We arrived late (about 10 minutes) and were lucky enough to go on the tour inside the house anyways because there is a video first. So they were kind to let us go on the tour with the other guests and come back to watch the video. The video was kind of old schooled and probably could be modernized, but it was also informative. Our tour guide was a perfect gentleman and very patient especially considering my husband was taking so many pictures. He allowed us the opportunity to stop, ask questions and take pictures. You are stepping back in time in the home of one of the greatest leaders of our time. It is off the beaten path, and I would recommend taking a cab or driving. Do not go on public bus unless you cant afford a cab. Otherwise, a must see!

i have been here 3 times in the span of 8 years. each time im amazed at this man's story which is a true american story about an american hero. you learn about him as a human being and a man of imperfections not just legend. it's ashamed that his story is not in every american school book. also, cedar hill is a beautiful home with a beautiful view of VA-MD -and the capital