Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation
Civil War Washington

The city of Washington was a complex, gritty, unfinished and precarious place during the Civil War. In this institute, connect with peers to illuminate new perspectives and under-told stories, explore historic sites and collect a wealth of resources. Gain tools to help students grapple with histories whose legacies matter today.

The partners within the Civil War Washington Consortium are committed to investigating the Civil War in all its complexity, and seek applicants with diverse experiences* who bring a variety of perspectives to the week of learning.

*Including but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, family status, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, professional experience, geographic region.

Discover historical sites in Washington, D.C., to share with students.

• With Frederick Douglass’s home, Cedar Hill, investigate the power of photography and track how Douglass and others used it to battle for progress. Examine what historical images and representations tell us about Douglass, Cedar Hill, and the area.
• With Tudor Place, unearth Civil War stories told by women in Georgetown to examine truth in memory.
• Explore the realities of enslavement in an urban environment and Compensated Emancipation.
• With Ford’s Theatre, engage storytelling and perspective-taking through historical drama to examine President Lincoln’s leadership and his relationship with Frederick Douglass.
• With President Lincoln’s Cottage, Bridge past and present conversations about race and emancipation to reflect on the ongoing legacies of Lincoln’s unfinished work.

Learn new strategies and resources you can apply in the classroom.

• Access a wealth of resources and primary sources to use in your classroom.
• Improve historical thinking skills and gain confidence tackling historical complexities.
• Forge lasting connections with peer educators.
• Network with museum educators to help support your students with site-specific learning.
• Reflect on your personal understanding of the Civil War and its impact on your teaching.
• Gain a new perspective on the capital city.

July 6-11, 2025

Program Details and Credit

• Cost: Free. Participants must pay a $100 refundable deposit to secure their place in the institute. Deposits are refunded upon successful completion of the program.
• The institute will accommodate up to 20 teachers of grades K through 12.
• Successful completion of the program certifies 36 hours of professional development.
• Graduate credit is available through Trinity University Washington: three (3) credits for $375.

What to Expect

• Travel: Round-trip air travel is provided through United Airlines for national participants traveling from outside the commutable D.C.-area.
• Housing: Single-occupancy hotel accommodations will be arranged for all participants. Participants receiving hotel accommodations will be housed at the Eaton DC Hotel
• Daily Transportation: Bus transportation will be provided between the hotel and program locations each day.
• Meals: Lunch is provided each day for all participants. Dinner is provided for the Sunday evening opening session. Participants are responsible for all other meals.
• Accessibility: The program is an active exploration of Washington, D.C., that includes several miles of walking daily and requires the use of historic steps. If you have questions or concerns about mobility and accessibility please email us.

Application Deadline: March 17, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Applicants for Summer 2024 will be notified of their status no later than April 21, 2025.

Ford’s Theatre Summer Teacher Institutes are made possible with support from the John T. Elliff Scholarship Fund of the Lincoln Group of DC.