Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse that is now this National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women.
About under an hour from Washington and under an hour from Baltimore by car.
Alerts
- ClosureTemporarily Closed for Construction
The Council House is closed for the rehabilitation of the home’s exterior and interior and to clean the home’s historic artifacts. The building and grounds will be closed from 9:00 a.m. September 9, 2026 until 9:00 a.m. January 27, 2027
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2022 to 2025.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East30-90 Minutes
Become a Junior Ranger at parks across National Capital Parks – East! Explore, complete a booklet, and earn badges and certificates along the way!
Opens on the Park Service site - Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps5-10 Minutes
Start your stamp collection and celebrate every park you visit! Explore historic sites and scenic parks managed by National Capital Parks - East and collect a unique stamp at each one.
Opens on the Park Service site - Become a Bethune Council House Junior Ranger30-60 Minutes
Come to the site to obtain a Junior Ranger book and complete it. When you complete it, you can mail or email it and a Park Ranger will sign your certificate and mail your official Junior Ranger badge
Opens on the Park Service site - Places of Interest Related to Mary McLeod Bethune1-4 Hours
Explore nearby historical sites and parks in the Washington, D.C. area related to the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House30-90 Minutes
Learn about the life and legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune as well as the work of the organization she established, the National Council of Negro Women, and how she used the power of education, political activism, and civil service to achieve racial and…
Opens on the Park Service site - Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS Bookstore5-30 Minutes
Visitors can purchase educational products and books related to Mary McLeod Bethune, the National Council of Negro Women, the Civil Rights Movement, and Women's History.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Weather & climate
Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30 to 50 F. There is occasional snow. Spring: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70 to 90 F. Humidity is usually high. Be prepared and drink plenty of water. There is a water fountain in the visitor center. Fall: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Humidity can remain high in the earlier part of the season.
Questions people ask
Does Mary McLeod Bethune Council House charge an entrance fee?
No. Mary McLeod Bethune Council House is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Temporarily Closed for Construction.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Mary McLeod Bethune Council House?
3,123 recreation visits in 2025, number 378 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House?
Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30 to 50 F. There is occasional snow.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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