Grounded in Play: Stories from the Field - A Memory Museum Experience

In 1977, this neighborhood won a piece of land. It came as the remedy in a racial discrimination suit — the District required the developer to hand it over to the community. Land, given back. It’s one of a handful of cases like it in the country, and likely the only one in Washington, DC.

Residents have called it The Field ever since. We have held our block parties here since the late 1960s. Kickball was played until the streetlights came on. You can still find ladybugs in the day and lightning bugs after dark.

On Saturday, November 21, we’re building a museum of that place — in one afternoon, out of what you bring.

Bring what you have. Photographs, block party fliers, church bulletins, school pictures, anything connected to The Field or your block. We especially would love to see pictures of you at that age or of the community at that time. We’ll scan it while you wait, put it on the wall that same day, and hand the original right back to you before you leave. It stays yours.

Tell your story to Playback Theater. While a team continues to build the museum, share your story with Playback Theater and watch it come to life. Playback transforms your story on the spot into a short performance, reflected back to you.

Sign up for a portrait. We’re building a community portrait series — the faces carrying this story forward. Sittings are scheduled individually. Register at the event for a time that works for you.

The day:

3:00 — Doors open. Refreshments, scanning, and memory stations. Arrive with your items and stories. It’s OK if you don’t bring an item — you can help us in other ways!

3:30 — Artist Mēlani N. Douglass officially welcomes everyone and discusses the ways we are building the Memory Museum as a community

4:40 — Playback Theater starts

5:55 — The Memory Museum is revealed; tour it together, connect with friends, and collect your items

If you grew up there, or hold memories of The Field, we want you in that room.

Bringing something? Tell us. Reply with your name and a phone snapshot of what you’re bringing, so we can make space for it on the wall.

This event launches a project documenting The Field’s story, leading to an exhibition in 2027 and Earth Day 2027 programming.

Grounded in Play: Stories from THE FIELD is a project by artist Mēlani N. Douglass, founder of the Family Arts Museum, in collaboration with the Valley Place Arts Collaborative. It is a recipient of the 2026 Visions — Projects & Events Grant from Humanities DC.

In partnership with the Anacostia Homeowners and Residents Association, the DC History Center, and Valley Place Arts Collaborative. Hosted at THEARC as part of Building Bridges Ward 8 Voices, who provided the space and staff that made this event possible.

Photography by Kayla Benjamin for the Washington Informer. Read the full story.