Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Bring the People’s Library to Life at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

History lives in books and in communities.

This spring, Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House is launching The People’s Library, a community-powered collection of books, media, and ideas connected to the many stories that shaped this landscape.

From the lives of the enslaved and free Black communities of Woodlawn, to the Quaker families who built a reform-minded community here, to Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision of democratic architecture at the Pope-Leighey House, these sites reflect generations of people who believed in shaping a better future.

The People’s Library will be a library by the people, for the people, and about the people who shaped these places.

The People’s Library Initiative

The People’s Library will create a welcoming space where visitors can:

• Explore books and media connected to the histories of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
• Discover perspectives on architecture, craft, preservation, and community life
• Contribute their own recommended readings and resources to grow the collection
• Gather, read, and reflect in a space designed for curiosity and conversation

Your Support Will Help Us Build

• A community-centered reading space within the historic site
• A growing collection of books and materials reflecting the many voices connected to Woodlawn and Northern Virginia
• Comfortable seating and furnishings that invite visitors to slow down and explore
• Educational resources that expand how we understand and interpret the past

Every Contribution Expands the Story

Historic places hold stories but communities hold knowledge.

Your gift during Spring2ACTion helps us launch a living library where visitors, scholars, neighbors, and history lovers can discover, share, and contribute to the ongoing story of Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House.

Together, we can build a library that reflects the many people, perspectives, and ideas that continue to shape this place.