https://www.nps.gov/frdo News releases from Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. en-us https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/2024-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest-winners.htm Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:14:00 EST The National Park Service announces winners for the 2024 Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site hosts an annual oratorical contest for students ages 6 to 18. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/2024-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest-winners.htm https://www.nps.gov/nace/learn/news/students-encouraged-to-enter-the-2024-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest.htm Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:14:00 EST WASHINGTON — The National Park Service is pleased to announce the 2024 Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest. Each year, students ages 6-18 years old are invited to perform a part of a Frederick Douglass speech at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. The contest celebrates Douglass’ activism and the many famed speeches he gave in his efforts to end slavery and promote racial equality and women’s rights.  https://www.nps.gov/nace/learn/news/students-encouraged-to-enter-the-2024-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/celebrate-july-4th-at-frederick-douglass-national-historic-site.htm Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:07:00 EST Join us at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site for the annual Independence Day reading of one of Frederick Douglass’s most famous speeches “What to the American Slave is the Fourth of July?” It will be dramatically read by longstanding Douglass actor Michael Crutcher whose impression strongly resembles that of the elder Douglass when he resided in Washington, D.C. The program is given on the front porch of the historic Douglass home in Anacostia. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/celebrate-july-4th-at-frederick-douglass-national-historic-site.htm https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-washington-d-c-contributes-1-14-billion-to-d-c-economy.htm Mon, 21 Aug 2023 08:30:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 39,440,786 visitors to national parks in Washington, D.C., spent $973,000,000 in D.C. in 2022. That spending resulted in 9,140 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to D.C.’s economy of $1,144,400,000. https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-washington-d-c-contributes-1-14-billion-to-d-c-economy.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-home-to-reopen-july-4.htm Thu, 22 Jun 2023 10:41:00 EST Join us at the reopening of Frederick Douglass National Historic Site on July 4! The celebration will start at 11 a.m. with a special ceremony featuring a ribbon-cutting, music, and a dramatic portrayal of Douglass’s famous speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-home-to-reopen-july-4.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-bible-used-in-swearing-in-ceremony-for-maryland-governor-wes-moore.htm Thu, 19 Jan 2023 06:02:00 EST Yesterday, the National Park Service helped facilitate the use of Frederick Douglass’ Bible in the swearing-in ceremony for Maryland Governor Wes Moore in Annapolis, Md. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-bible-used-in-swearing-in-ceremony-for-maryland-governor-wes-moore.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-d-c-creates-679-million-in-economic-benefit.htm Mon, 27 Jun 2022 05:27:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 28,599,634 visitors to national parks in the District of Columbia spent $600,600,000 in 2021. That spending resulted in 5,293 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the District’s economy of $679,400,000.  https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/national-park-tourism-in-d-c-creates-679-million-in-economic-benefit.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/10-28-2020-the-agitators-podcast-announced.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2020 06:00:00 EST The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, the National Park Service, and public media organization PRX announced a new historical fiction audio drama podcast: "The Agitators: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass." https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/10-28-2020-the-agitators-podcast-announced.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/explore-dc-s-national-parks-with-a-new-free-app.htm Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:20:00 EST Heading to a Washington, DC, national park this Labor Day weekend? Download the free DC Area National Parks App in the Apple and Google Play stores to find, explore and learn about parks in the Washington, DC, area. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/explore-dc-s-national-parks-with-a-new-free-app.htm https://www.nps.gov/nace/learn/news/national-capital-parks-east-resumes-permits.htm Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:28:00 EST National Capital Parks-East has resumed issuing permits for demonstrations and special events. https://www.nps.gov/nace/learn/news/national-capital-parks-east-resumes-permits.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-capital-area-parks-are-modifying-operations-to-implement-local-health-guidance.htm Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:09:00 EST In response to public health guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state health departments in Virginia and Maryland and in the District of Columbia, and local health departments in the counties of Alexandria, Va., Allegheny, Md., Arlington, Va., Fairfax, Va., Frederick, Md., Jefferson, W.Va., Loudon, Va., Montgomery, Md., Prince George, Md., Prince William, Va., and Washington, Md., the National Park Service (NPS) has implemented additional facility closures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).   https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-capital-area-parks-are-modifying-operations-to-implement-local-health-guidance.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-parks-in-the-national-capital-area-modify-operations-to-implement-latest-health-guidance.htm Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:47:00 EST WASHINGTON – National parks in the greater Washington area are modifying their operations to promote social distancing and implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1465/national-parks-in-the-national-capital-area-modify-operations-to-implement-latest-health-guidance.htm https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-parks-in-greater-washington-d-c-commemorate-the-first-landing-of-enslaved-africans-in-english-occupied-america.htm Mon, 19 Aug 2019 04:47:00 EST On Aug. 25, national parks in greater Washington invite the public to join a nationwide commemoration to honor and remember the enslaved Africans brought to Virginia’s Point Comfort, now part of Fort Monroe National Monument, in 1619. https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/national-parks-in-greater-washington-d-c-commemorate-the-first-landing-of-enslaved-africans-in-english-occupied-america.htm https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/tourism-at-greater-washington-area-national-parks-creates-1-58-billion-in-economic-benefit.htm Tue, 28 May 2019 06:29:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 54 million visitors to national parks in and around the nation’s capital spent nearly $1.1 billion in 2018. That spending resulted in 14,984 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the regional economy of $1.58 billion. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/tourism-at-greater-washington-area-national-parks-creates-1-58-billion-in-economic-benefit.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-s-night-at-the-archives.htm Wed, 03 Oct 2018 07:49:00 EST On October 18, 2018 the National Park Service, National Archives and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History will honor Frederick Douglass’s life and legacy with a panel discussion on Douglass’s ideology and historical context in today’s modern world. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-s-night-at-the-archives.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-s-escape-to-freedom.htm Wed, 05 Sep 2018 12:05:00 EST In honor of the bicentennial year of Frederick Douglass’s birth, the National Park Service and Amtrak’s Trails and Rails program, will re-create Douglass’s escape to freedom on September 8, 2018. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-s-escape-to-freedom.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-emancipation-day.htm Mon, 09 Apr 2018 10:11:00 EST Travel back in time with the National Park Service for Emancipation Day on April 16, 2018, from 2 p.m to 8 p.m. at Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-emancipation-day.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-bicentennial.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2018 07:00:00 EST National Park Service commemorates 200 Years of Frederick Douglass’s life and legacy at a grand kickoff for a yearlong commemoration at Douglass’s home in Washington, D.C. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/frederick-douglass-bicentennial.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/and-the-winners-are.htm Wed, 27 Dec 2017 10:03:00 EST The National Park Service is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Oratorical Contest at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. The top placeholders will participate in the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial birthday event. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/and-the-winners-are.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/new-superintendent-named-for-anacostia-park-historic-homes-and-capitol-hill-parks.htm Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:25:00 EST New Superintendent Named for Anacostia Park, Historic Homes and Capitol Hill Parks, plus two new positions to speed progress and improve coordination to benefit the Anacostia River and neighboring communities. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/new-superintendent-named-for-anacostia-park-historic-homes-and-capitol-hill-parks.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/celebrate-family-fun-day.htm Tue, 06 Oct 2015 12:43:00 EST Celebrate the life of Frederick Douglass with a day of family-friendly fun. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/celebrate-family-fun-day.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/douglass-bible-to-go-on-temporary-display-following-attorney-general-lynch-swearing-in-ceremony.htm Tue, 16 Jun 2015 21:00:00 EST The Frederick Douglass Bible, used earlier today by Attorney General Loretta Lynch for her official installation ceremony, will be on temporary display at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site visitor center through July 5. The park is free and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/douglass-bible-to-go-on-temporary-display-following-attorney-general-lynch-swearing-in-ceremony.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/winners-of-the-2014-oratorical-contest.htm Fri, 19 Dec 2014 06:14:00 EST Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is pleased to announce the winners of the park's annual Oratorical Contest. All winners received a $200 gift certificate and are invited back to the park to perform their award-winning speeches on February 14 for the anniversary of Douglass's birth. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/winners-of-the-2014-oratorical-contest.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/students-to-participate-in-moving-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest.htm Tue, 09 Dec 2014 06:52:00 EST The National Park Service is pleased to announce the annual Frederick Douglass National Historic Site oratorical contest on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, 2014. The contestants, students in first through twelfth grades, will present a portion of a Douglass speech at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/students-to-participate-in-moving-frederick-douglass-oratorical-contest.htm https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/dc-area-national-parks-receive-grant-from-the-national-park-foundation.htm Mon, 08 Dec 2014 10:28:00 EST The National Park Service, National Capital Region Office is one of 39 recipients of a 2014 America's Best Idea grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks. https://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/news/dc-area-national-parks-receive-grant-from-the-national-park-foundation.htm