Frederick Douglas House
Cedar Hill Estate was home to Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), one of the most prominent Black Americans of his time. A runaway slave, abolitionist, preacher, equal rights activist, and statesman, he was a central figure in the fight for equality and justice for his entire life. In particular, his oratory and written works were important to the shifting discourse surrounding slavery. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is a celebration of Black excellence, courage, and the power of using one’s voice.
Anacostia Community Museum
Established in 1967 as the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum brings to light the unsung stories of people who are emboldened to catalyze change in their neighborhoods and communities. For nearly 60 years, the museum has sought to preserve and share the rich history and culture, vibrancy, and contributions of Anacostia’s African American community, pioneering a community-centered approach to curation and the development of its programs and exhibitions.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Over 100 years ago, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church opened its doors as the first Black Catholic parish in Southeast Washington, DC. Emerging from the efforts of faithful Catholic believers living in Anacostia who were excluded from the full experience of the Church due to segregation, OLPH is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and faith of the nascent Black Catholic community that brought forward the “parish on the hill.” For most of its history, the OLPH has been under the care of the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites), and a parochial school operated from 1921-2007. WSG’s elementary grades moved into the OLPH school space in 2013.
Entertainment and Sports Arena at St. Elizabeth’s East
Completed in 2018, the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) is a 4,200 seat venue that is home to the Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Capital City Go-Go (NBA G-League). Located in Congress Heights on the St. Elizabeth’s East campus, ESA is part of ambitious redevelopment of the former St. Elizabeth’s Hospital grounds, converting the underutilized space into a place where Southeast residents can live, work, and enjoy recreational activities. Sycamore and Oak, a food hall and collaborative retail space, opened in 2023, and a new hospital is expected to be completed in 2025.
The Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) has been an important part of WSG’s history, allowing us to offer high-quality programming in a state-of-the-art facility that is rooted in the Southeast, DC community. Establishing our unified facility on THEARC’s campus will allow us to continue and expand our shared programming with our partners located at THEARC and maintain access to facilities like THEARC Theater and Boys and Girls Club gymnasium, while also offering students and staff a school environment that is intentionally designed to support our educational philosophy.
THEARC Resident Partners
THEARC East: 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE
BBAR, the 11th Street Bridge Park Project, THEARC Farm, and the Skyland Workforce Center at Good Hope Road
The Washington Ballet - SE Campus
Levine School of Music - DC Campus: THEARC
2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE: Covenant House Washington