Cleveland Park Historical Society

06/02/2026

Spend an afternoon drawing in one of Cleveland Park’s most beautiful historic landscapes. Join the Cleveland Park Historical Society and Rosedale Conservancy for a Plein Air Drawing Meet-Up at historic Rosedale, led by artist Jorge Vara Hernandez and presented in partnership with Washington Studio School. Registration required! See the link in our bio to sign up.

All ages and skill levels welcome
Drawing boards, paper, and pastels provided
Bring a chair or blanket
Saturday, June 13, 2:00–4:00 PM
Rain date: Sunday, June 14

04/25/2026

Cleveland Park’s Little Free Libraries weave books into everyday life. Tucked on corners and along strolling routes, these tiny hubs invite neighbors of all ages to take a book, leave a book, and linger a little longer. In our Fall issue of Voices, we spotlight a few of these special spots, like Kathleen Kaye’s longtime library on 34th & Ordway, where students and families pause daily to discover something new. Or the blue library at Macomb & Idaho, where every book (no matter how unexpected!) eventually finds its reader.

Have a favorite Little Free Library in the neighborhood? Share it below 👇

04/10/2026

Explore Cleveland Park through a whole new lens! Join us for a FREE children’s walking tour with the Cleveland Park Historical Society + Washington Architectural Foundation, and turn your kids or grandkids into architecture detectives. From spotting towers and dormers to reading the details of historic homes (and a stop at the iconic Uptown Theater), this is a hands-on neighborhood adventure they won’t forget.

Starts at the Cleveland Park Library�Designed for ages 9–12 (with an adult)�Includes a fun illustrated activity booklet

Spots are still available! Sign up now via the Link in our bio and share with friends, neighbors, and family who should join the fun

04/07/2026

You are invited to a Children’s Walking Tour of Cleveland Park on Sunday, April 19 from 1:30–3:00 PM.

Offered in partnership with the Washington Architectural Foundation and Friends of Cleveland Park Library, this interactive tour is designed especially for children ages 9–12. Beginning at the Cleveland Park Library, tour leader and architect, Mary Kay Lanzillotta, will provide a brief overview of neighborhood history and architectural terms. Then, young explorers and their families will set out on a neighborhood adventure to discover how architects design homes and buildings. Each child will receive an illustrated booklet to guide them in searching for architectural clues along the route.

While most of our walking tours are reserved for members, this is the only tour of the year that is open to the broader community. Bring your kids, grandkids, or neighbors! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-walking-tour-of-cleveland-park-tickets-1985281154375?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

03/03/2026

What if the lamp in your living room was worth $80,000+?

Join us for our own “Antiques Roadshow”-style Antiques Appraisal Day on Saturday, March 21 (10 AM–12 PM) at Cleveland Park Congregational UCC. Bring one item — art, jewelry, coins, books, memorabilia — and get an expert estimate from Christopher Lancette (Orion’s Attic) and Steve Gouterman (Paradigm Experts).

$40 Members | $50 Nonmembers
🎟️ This is a fundraiser. Your ticket supports the Historical Society’s work. See the link in our bio for tickets!

03/03/2026

You are invited to our Antiques Appraisal Day on Saturday, March 21 (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM). Join us at Cleveland Park Congregational UCC for a lively, “Antiques Roadshow”-style morning featuring two expert appraisers (Christopher Lancette, Orion’s Attic and Steve Gouterman, Paradigm Experts).

The program begins with a short presentation on trends in antiques and collectibles, smart selling strategies, and what to know when downsizing or managing an inherited estate. Then, bring one item — art, jewelry, coins, books, memorabilia, or other collectibles — for an estimate of its value.

Tickets:
Ticket includes one item for appraisal and admission to the presentation. This is a fundraiser for us and your ticket directly benefits the Historical Society’s work.

$40 for CPHS Members
$50 for Nonmembers

Have you ever wondered if that antique painting, vintage brooch, or military relic gathering dust could be worth a fortune? Come find out!

01/05/2026

Cleveland Park is a neighborhood shaped by both its history and its people. The Cleveland Park Historical Society’s (CPHS) mission is to help neighbors understand that history and celebrate what makes the area distinctive. Whether you’ve lived in Cleveland Park for decades or arrived more recently, membership is an invitation to be part of a community conversation about where we’ve been and where we’re going.

What Your Membership Supports https://www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org/membership

Membership dues make it possible for CPHS to offer programs and resources that are educational and community-focused, including:

Walking tours, talks, and events that explore Cleveland Park’s architecture, planning history, and social history
Research and publications, including our biannual newsletter Voices, that document and share stories from across the neighborhood
Engagement with city processes by providing historical background and context to help inform public conversations about growth and change
Traditions like the Gingerbread House Festival that bring neighbors together across generations

A Welcoming Community

At its core, CPHS is about connection: learning from one another, sharing knowledge, and building community. Members support programming that invites neighbors to engage with Cleveland Park’s history, and helps the broader public better understand the forces that have shaped the neighborhood.

Join Us and Enjoy a Year of Engaging Programs and Events

Membership runs for the full 2026 calendar year:
$65 – Individual
$100 – Household

If you’re interested in Cleveland Park’s past, curious about its future, or looking for ways to connect with neighbors and local history, we hope you’ll join us!

Preserving the history and architecture of Cleveland Park, Washington DC

11/20/2025

Watch our master baker, Robert Jenkens, work his gingerbread magic! He’s been busy baking dozens of homemade gingerbread houses for CPHS’s Gingerbread House Festival on December 13 at the Cleveland Park Club. We’ll have three decorating sessions this year, including our first-ever adults-only decorating party. Tickets are members-only for now, with any remaining spots opening to the public in early December.

10/03/2025

Did you know one of modern architecture’s most striking homes is right here in Cleveland Park? The William L. Slayton House (1960) looks modest from the street, but inside, it opens into a dramatic split-level space that flows with the slope of the land. Its signature is a triple-vault, poured-in-place concrete roof —a bold structural innovation, paired with glass front and back walls that make the home feel open and transparent. Architect and visionary I.M. Pei, better known for his many corporate towers, museums, and the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, built just three total residences in his seven-decade career.

06/24/2025

On Sunday, June 22nd, the Cleveland Park Historical Society hosted a group of brave walkers on a tour highlighting the Architectural Gems of Connecticut Avenue, led by Steve Knight of the Art Deco Society of Washington DC. In spite of the extreme heat (90 degrees and counting!) spirits remained high and the group reveled in Steve’s insights into the design styles punctuating our beautiful main street. Highlights included the Kennedy-Warren (pictured), the Uptown Theatre, Sedgwick & Tilden Gardens, and the Klingle Valley Bridge. With a variety of architectural styles ranging from Art Deco to Colonial or Georgian Revival to Arts and Crafts, the diversity of buildings along Cleveland Park’s commercial corridor is part of what makes our neighborhood so special. In case you missed it, we hope to see you at our upcoming walking tours! Please see our events page for details: https://www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org/events.