Explore the District Through Oral History

Why oral history?
DC is home to over 700,000 people. Oral history creates an inclusive record of residents’ experiences in their own words. Audio interviews retain the tone, emotion, and essence of a person, providing a unique lens into their life.

Listen By Ward

Discover more about the individuals highlighted at each site by listening to their oral history clips. Use the navigation panel below to browse a mix of videos featuring hometown DC oral history narrators and archived oral histories, organized by ward.

Skip to Videos

Interested in learning more about oral history?
Check out the
DC Oral History Collaborative for more resources.