Congress makes home of Carter G. Woodson a National Historic Site

The Victorian row house that Black history pioneer Carter G. Woodson called home in Washington, D.C., will become a museum and tourist attraction, thanks to recent passage of a federal bill establishing the house as a National Historic Site.

The designation is granted to rare properties of national significance.

The Senate passed the bill sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) to preserve the more than 100-year-old house at 1538 Ninth St., NW, where Woodson lived and researched in Black history from 1915 until his death in 1950. The bill goes to President Bush for signing.

The Woodson house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Under the new act, the house, which currently is boarded up, will be restored and turned into a museum and tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service.

Known as the Father of Black History, Woodson dedicated his life to the education of the American public about the contributions of Blacks to the nation's history and culture. The second Black to achieve a Harvard Ph.D., Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in 1915 and created Negro History Week, precursor to Black History Month.

The ASALH, which owns Woodson's house, first brought the property to Norton's attention.

Under the 2003 bill, the National Park Service will acquire the house from the ASALH, as well as three adjoining properties in the historic Shaw community. The ASALH, based at Howard University, will be allowed to occupy part of the site.

The National Park Service has projected land acquisition to cost as much as $1 million.