Historic Perspectives, Modern Initiatives
When Woodrow Wilson and his wife Edith retired from the White House in 1921 they made this house their home. Just off the beaten path of Embassy Row in the heart of Washington, D.C. the house is historically preserved - a time capsule from 1924 that is open daily to visitors.
Since 1963, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has opened the doors of the Woodrow Wilson House to the public, examining the impact of his consequential presidency and, more recently, taking an honest appraisal of Wilson’s triumphs and shortcomings.
Today, we are proud to steward this site as a vibrant community resource and a model of preservation and historical collections. We offer tours, programs, special events, rentals of the venue, exhibitions and educational programming.
Come visit us! Explore by taking a tour, engage with our education programs, discover our exhibitions, and celebrate a place and story that matters.
Schedule Your Guided Tour!
Discover The President Woodrow Wilson House! One-hour guided general tours and Specialty tours are available during the times below and by appointment. With over 8,400 items in the collection, our artifacts speak volumes about Woodrow Wilson’s presidency and legacy. Learn about the historic site. Come tour with us!
Normal Operating Hours:
1-Hour Guided Tours: Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays at specific times
30-Minute Highlight Tours: Mondays-Fridays at specific times (unless otherwise noted)
Specialty Tours: Mondays-Thursdays at specific times
Self-Guided Garden or Exhibit Tours: Mondays-Saturdays
Sunday: Closed
No Self-Guided Tours in the house
Holiday Operating Hours:
OPEN: Veterans Day, Monday, November 11: Free tours at 11am, 12pm, and 1pm
CLOSED: Election Day, November 5 (Please vote!); Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28; Friday, November 29
Active Military and Veterans: Free admission
Call or e-mail for special appointments or group tours: 202-387-4062. Please note that group tours are $30/person.
OPEN
Permanent Exhibit:
"Moving Toward Transparency: Woodrow Wilson's Legacy at 100"
Monday - Saturday: Free
In this exhibition, we have meticulously curated a dual-sided narrative—one that pays tribute to the significant milestones of Wilson's presidency and, in equal measure, delves into the multifaceted controversies that have resonated through the decades. It is an exhibition that encapsulates both the brilliance and the complexities of Wilson's leadership, inviting us to examine, question, and contemplate.
Dr. Turkiya Lowe: "Commemorating Women During the Age of Woodrow Wilson"- November 19
Join the Wilson House as it welcomes the National Park Service Supervisory Historian and Deputy Federal Preservation Officer, Dr. Turkiya Lowe. Her presentation will discuss how the National Park Service preserves, interprets, and educates the public about U.S. women’s history during the Wilsonian Era through national parks, preservation programs, and collaborative partnerships.
Purchase the President Woodrow Wilson House Book
The timeless home of our 28th president, perfectly preserved from the 1920s, serves as an unforgettable backdrop for learning about our past as Americans. The Trust opened the doors of the museum in 1963 for visitors to explore this significant site with over 8,400 one-of-a-kind historic artifacts. The book boasts a treasure trove of images from the Trust museum’s archives, offering a visually stunning journey through history.
In the News
- 26 Sep
A Conversation with Elizabeth Karcher
Read moreLocated in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, the Woodrow Wilson House is a National Trust Historic Site that examines the full history of Wilson’s
- 17 Sep
10 Quirky Objects Underscore the Unique Stories of Historic Sites
Read moreDuring World War I, Woodrow and Edith Wilson wanted to promote the concept of sustainability and garner support behind creating Victory Gardens. They did this
- 22 Aug
Episode 11 – Washington National Cathedral and First Lady Edith Wilson
Read moreWashington National Cathedral's Chief Public Affairs Officer, Kevin Eckstrom, interviews noted author and expert, Rebecca Roberts, about the complex legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson
- 28 Jun
Celebrating Caribbean Heritage Month at Wilson House: We De Ya 2024
Read moreCaribNation Television covered the Caribbean Heritage Month event, We DeYa 2024, which took place at the President Woodrow Wilson House on June 28, 2024. Wilson
Our impact
Each year, 10+ Wilson House Scholars work on meaningful projects shared with the wider community through Scholars in Action. We serve hundreds of DC-based teachers, as well as teachers following the National Standards for Civics & Government with our online lesson plans. This year over 75 Girl Scouts learned about civics, suffrage, and democracy. Urban explorers from all over the world visit our exhibitions and over 12,000 sets of eyes view our website each month!
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant: For the People, By the People
VIEW PROJECTMarder-Vaughn Center for Historic Sites Interpretation and Education Grant: Teacher-in-Residence at Woodrow Wilson House
VIEW PROJECTThank you to the Grills Grant for enabling us to continue our mission, our vision, and our impact on the community.
VIEW PROJECT15th Point Project
VIEW PROJECTNot much has changed at the Wilson House in the last 100 years, except the conversation. Here's what people are talking about today:
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Thank you so much to our tour guide –
Her tour was simply magnificent. She knew every detail – and spoke with such clarity, warmth, and authority.
Her considered personal conclusions on Mr. Wilson’s legacy were spell-binding.
James – A Guest -
It is a beautiful, beautiful property and we hope to visit again in the future. Our group had a wonderful time.
Thank you so much for your help in coordinating. This is quite frankly, a hidden gem in DC.
Heather, Broadcasters Association -
I cannot tell you how much our group enjoyed the Woodrow Wilson House. What a tremendous amount of knowledge our guide has – he truly made the Woodrow Wilson House even better than we expected.
Heather, Broadcasters Association -
What Black Lives Matter is confronting is also opening up new possibilities for quite profound change in the United States.
Dr. Kristoffer Smemo, History Professor at the University of Washington in St. Louis -
Out of every crisis we’ve ever had, there’s always been a catharsis afterwards. That’s not being a prophet, it’s simply just studying history and you’ll see that always happens.
Garrett Peck, Author, Historian, Tour Guide, and Wilson House Board Member -
If we only honor the big names and the loud women, we’re really missing what suffrage was all about – which is rights for all women.
Laura Kumin, author of All Stirred Up: Suffrage Cookbooks, Food, and the Battle for Women’s Right to Vote -
Many Americans don’t even realize America is full of so many paradoxes, but they are what makes America complicated but wonderful in diversity.
Dr. Johnathan Wharton -
America has its own problems but is making progress–taking one step backwards and two steps forward.
Attorney Chris Richardson -
For all of those individuals who are similarly interested in changing, shaping, having a
Brenda Jones, author of Queens of the Resistance
dynamic impact on America, politics is the place to do it. -
You don’t need to treat blacks and women special, just as equals.
Ambassador Joel Danies
Host Your Next Event at President Wilson House
At the President Wilson House you can entertain your guests in classic Washington style. Ideal for any size event, from small dinners to large receptions, Wilson House epitomizes the ‘Washington Scene’ and offers a unique glimpse into the history of our nation’s capital.
Whether it's a graduation, wedding, corporate dinner or milestone occasion, the President Wilson House offers an elegant setting for your special event.