Interesting free museum from NPS. Several floors to visit with pictures and historical items. Theres also a room to Frederick Douglas. Would recommend for a 30-45 minutes stop.

Was here for a briefing. What a beautiful building. If you get a chance to tour, do so.

Charles Sumner School Museum is an off the beaten path museum in Washington, D.C. that attracts the curious local. The building itself is in downtown D.C. close to the National Geographic HQ. The building is in a former 1872 elementary school for African-American students when segregation was still a sad reality. The city is lucky to have the gorgeous building preserved.The museum is open Monday through Friday and closes at 5pm. A few websites online mention calling ahead, but I just walked in. The security guard will take your I.D. and point you to the areas you can view.The museum starts out on the ground floor (entrance on 17th Street NW) with two rooms setting up the premise- a museum of the D.C. public school system. When I went in December 2019, the ground floor also hosted an art exhibit called Noire Portraits, depicting African-American women with the word they felt like defines them most.Once you visit the two rooms here, take the elevator to the next three floors. Each of these floors houses 3-4 small rooms of exhibits honoring the founders and heroes of the D.C. public school system. Artifacts are scattered throughout the floors. The top floor has a giant room that looks like it was once an auditorium.If you love local architecture, its worth a visit to see the building and learn more about an important part of our citys history.

Came here for a lecture put on by the Washington Arts Lawyers Association. The building staff were very friendly and helpful when I asked where to find the room the lecture was held in, since it was my first time at this location.

The Sumner School outstanding programming. Sign up for the email list so you don’t miss anything.What I love about it is how the school highlights local history and culture that has shaped the city and the world. I look forward to attending more programs in the future!

Interesting free museum. African Americans education. Very nice artifacts and building

Built in 1872 on the site of the Humble Schoolhouse by Adolf Cluss. The school was originally for black children, the first class having graduated in 1877. The school closed in 1978 due to declining population

Beautiful building. Great staff. Interesting collection.

Beautiful historic place. Great space for a training sessions

Very interesting place. Great historical site

Bill Clintons sax lives here.

Great place for meetings

DC gem.