D.C.’s LGBT landmarks will be identified, highlighted in an online database

Every single LGBT landmark in the nation’s capital is going to be identified, studied, and later inserted into a publicly-accessible online database. According to a press release, the U.S. Department of Interior awarded a $50,000 grant to the D.C. Historic Preservation Office within the D.C. Office of Planning (OP) in order to fund the project.

This is one of 13 projects in the nation funded by the U.S. Department of Interior that is aimed to benefit the National Register of Historic Places through increasing the number of listings associated with underrepresented communities.

Already, there are nearly 750 landmarks in the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites with three-quarters of these sites also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Only two sites in the D.C. Inventory are noted for their significance in the LGBT community.

In a statement, the Director of the OP Eric Shaw said, “Throughout history, members of the LGBTQ community have been influential in creating the space in which our city thrives and yet their presence is absent from our day-to-day surroundings. This project will identify areas where heritage can be reflected through the built environment and gathering places important to the LGBTQ communities.”

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