Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

06/01/2026

Things are coming together! 🔨

The walls are filling up, the stories are taking shape, and our museum expansion is quickly becoming a reality!

Come see the finished result on June 28 from 3-5PM at the Grand Opening of our museum expansion and be the first to explore our completed exhibit.

We can't wait to share it with you!

05/27/2026

First Lady Ellen Wilson quietly became a powerful advocate for social reform.

As honorary president of the National Civic Foundation, she worked to improve conditions for women and children and fought for better housing for African American families living in Washington, D.C.’s alley communities. Her advocacy helped lead to the passage of a federal housing bill in 1914 establishing minimum housing standards in the District of Columbia.

The legislation passed Congress as Ellen Wilson lay dying in the White House from Bright disease. At the time, no First Lady had been so publicly connected to major legislation.

Her legacy reminds us that influence can take many forms, and that meaningful change often begins behind the scenes.

05/25/2026

Wishing everyone a meaningful Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

Join us tonight at 7PM EST for an engaging discussion with Earl Swift, author of Hell Put To Shame: The 1921 Murder Farm Massacre and the Horror of America's Second Slavery.

This thought-provoking speaker series offers a sobering look at a hidden chapter of American history and its enduring relevance today.

Mr. Swift’s Book will be on sale the night of the event.

Register Below 📋:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/speaker-series-hell-put-to-shame-the-1921-tickets-271357

05/20/2026

We were honored to attend Stuart Hall's Research Symposium last night!

Historical Research is the capstone experience of Stuart Hall's history program. Throughout the year, these students come to our library and archives and focused on historical research during the 1912-1922 decade. The primary goal is that students who complete this class will have the skills necessary to independently pursue topics in history and successfully study history at the college level.

Congratulations on the achievements of this great group of students!

05/19/2026

Between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July, communities across the country come together for Civic Season—a time to explore our shared history and discover ways to shape the future.

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to be part of this national movement connecting history, citizenship, and community.

Check out the Civic Season events happening at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum this summer!

https://www.woodrowwilson.org/civic-season-wwpl

05/18/2026

Happy Museum Monday! Come by and check us out! We're open Monday- Sunday 10am-5pm. Take a tour, stroll through our gardens, and enjoy the beautiful flowers!

05/15/2026

Happy Friday, everyone! 🙌🏼

Today as our Museum Curator, Andrew, was hard at work getting our gallery spaces ready, he discovered this drawing under layers of paint! It was probably put there during the museum renovation in the 1980s!

How fun is this?!

05/12/2026

Join us Thursday, May 21 for our next speaker series!

This month we are pleased to welcome Earl Smith to the WWPL to talk about his compelling book: Hell Put to Shame. The book uncovers the true story and murder of eleven Black farmhands held in conditions of debt slavery, exposing the harsh realities of peonage long after the Civil War. Blending investigative narrative, courtroom drama, and historical insight, Swift brings to life the courageous efforts of figures such as James Weldon Johnson, Walter F. White, and Hugh M. Dorsey, whose pursuit of justice challenged the norms of the Jim Crow South.

Our speaker series are free to the public, register below!

When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM EST Where: In-person in our Archives and Research building or online via ZOOM.

05/11/2026

For this rainy Monday, we thought it would be a perfect time for a renovation update!☔🔨

We're so excited to share the progress we're making on our museum expansion! By extending into the second floor, we'll be able to tell even more of the story of Woodrow Wilson, the suffrage movement, WWI, and so much more.

What do you think of the progress so far?!