Exhibit Overview

Produced by NEWorks Productions in collaboration with the DC History Center, DC Home Rule 50 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the District of Columbia Home Rule act by exploring the urgent themes of self-governance, full citizenship, free elections, and DC statehood. 

Featuring contemporary images by emerging photographers representing American University, the University of the District of Columbia, and Howard University, images by celebrated DC photographer Lateef Mangum, and collections from the DC History Center, the D.C. Home Rule 50 exhibition opened in the West Gallery of the DC History Center on Friday, April 7. and was extended through November 2024.

Conceived and curated by Nolan Williams, Jr. 

Co-curated by teaching artists Iwan Bagus and Leena Jayaswal 

Additional curation (virtual exhibit) by Larry Cook

Special thanks to Anne McDonough, contributing historian

DC Home Rule 50 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act by exploring the urgent themes of self-governance, full citizenship, free elections, and DC statehood.

The Home Rule Act, passed by Congress on December 24, 1973, devolved select congressional powers to reorganize the governmental structure of Washington, D.C.; provided a charter for local governance, including the election of a mayor and city council; and delegated certain legislative powers to the local government.

The significance of this anniversary is all the more compelling when you consider that governance of the District of Columbia was controlled by Congress for 183 years, from our city’s founding on July 16, 1790 until Christmas Eve, 1973. The Home Rule Act was an important, long-overdue step towards granting DC residents the same democratic rights as citizens of all fifty states. 

A companion digital exhibition was mounted beginning on April 16, 2023 in commemoration of D.C. Emancipation Day and remained active through the end of the year.