Curator; Tudor Place

Overview

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden is an illustrious cultural institution in the heart of Washington, DC—a place where American history is not only preserved but actively explored, questioned and brought to life. Home to six generations of the Peter family, descendants of Martha Washington, from 1805 to 1983, Tudor Place offers an unbroken narrative of domestic life, civic engagement and social change spanning nearly two centuries.

The estate’s architectural centerpiece—a Federal-period mansion featuring a rare Temple Portico designed by U.S. Capitol architect Dr. William Thornton—anchors 5½ acres of historic gardens and green space. This urban oasis invites reflection and discovery, offering visitors a unique experience that blends landmark architecture, expansive landscapes and a nationally significant collection of over 18,000 artifacts, including the second-largest Washington Collection outside of Mount Vernon.

Tudor Place is more than a historic house museum. It is a platform for inclusive storytelling, where the lives of enslaved individuals, domestic workers and the original inhabitants of Georgetown are thoughtfully interpreted alongside the legacy of the Peter family. Its extensive archives of over 250,000 items document the social, architectural and economic history of the region and the nation.

As Tudor Place enters a new chapter, it is poised to evolve into a dynamic hub for education, dialogue and civic engagement. Plans for a reimagined Visitor Center, renewed exhibitions and digitally accessible collections reflect a bold vision for expanding impact and relevance. The institution is committed to making history resonate with contemporary audiences—locally, nationally and globally.

National Recognition & Awards

In recognition of its leadership in inclusive interpretation and community collaboration, Tudor Place Historic House & Garden has received multiple national awards for its groundbreaking exhibition and guided tour, “Ancestral Spaces:
People of African Descent at Tudor Place.” This initiative—centered on the lives and legacies of enslaved and free individuals connected to the site—has been honored for its innovative use of descendant voices, artifacts, audio storytelling and photography to transform the traditional house museum experience.

In 2024, “Ancestral Spaces” earned the Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), as well as the Outstanding Public History Project Award from the National Council on Public History (NCPH), both recognizing the project’s interpretive depth and impact. In 2025, Tudor Place received a second AASLH Leadership in History Award of Excellence, acknowledging the ongoing evolution and sustained excellence of the exhibit and tour.

Together, these honors reflect a broader institutional commitment to truth-telling, inclusive narratives and collaborative public history practice.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Tudor Place seeks a visionary Curator to serve as the lead voice and strategist for interpreting its history, collection, and exhibitions. The Curator is responsible for and shapes how Tudor Place advances its mission through exhibitions and interpretation, management and care of the collection and archive and research, articles and public presentations.

The role is ideal for a social historian and innovative thinker who excels at putting people, places and objects into meaningful context and who is motivated by the power of history to spark dialogue, foster understanding and inspire future generations. This position prioritizes inclusive interpretation, ethical stewardship and dynamic engagement with contemporary audiences.

Working collaboratively across departments and with community partners, the Curator ensures that Tudor Place’s narratives are historically rigorous, comprehensive and engaging, and that they invite broader communities to see themselves reflected in, and challenged by, America’s history.

As head of the Collections Department, the Curator reports to the Executive Director and is part of the senior leadership team of Tudor Place. The Curator supervises departmental…