Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Morning at the Museum: A Writing Journey

The Smithsonian Museums are an international treasure and they are located right here in Washington, DC. Yet have you ever wondered how to turn those rich exhibits into stories? Join Dolen Perkins-Valdez at the National Museum of African American History and Culture as she takes you on a special tour of the museum through a writer's eyes. Learn how Dolen uses museum resources to discover untold stories and generate writing prompts. Find an exhibit that personally connects with you and begin to shape it into fiction. Not only will your writing be enriched, but your spirit will be filled.

This event is the first installment of our 2026 DC Reads series, held in partnership by DC Public Library and PEN/Faulkner. Learn more about DC Reads here.