A Joint Return to the Nation’s Capital

In 2006, the Council of State Archivists (CoSA), the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA) came together for the first Joint Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. On August 12–18, 2018, the Joint Conference Host Committee is excited to welcome all three organizations back to the nation’s capital for SAA’s 82nd Annual Meeting and the fourth Joint Annual Meeting at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Our committee members have been hard at work since late last year developing tours, service projects, and experiences to complement the conference program and help attendees have a rewarding visit to our region. Starting in March, members of the Host Committee will use their extensive knowledge of the area to fill our Host Committee blog with articles that will serve as your go-to resource for all things DC—from the practical (how to navigate the area and where to find the nearest pharmacy) to the absolutely essential (how to decompress with a short walk in Rock Creek Park and where to find the best khachapuri in town).

As your hosts, we want our blog to enrich your visit by providing detailed information about DC’s neighborhoods and nearby suburbs, ideas for self-guided tours and experiences, and suggestions for great day trips, including Harper’s Ferry, Annapolis, and Virginia’s wine country.

Please bookmark the blog, stop by often, and feel free to tell us what you need to know.

Change is the norm in Washington, DC. For those of you who have not visited since the last joint conference, here are a few of its interesting changes and events.

New and Recently Refurbished Cultural Attractions

On the National Mall, you’ll find the newest Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in September 2016 and continues to be among the city’s most popular destinations.
Near the Capitol, the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument was established in April 2016 to memorialize the equal rights movement and the former headquarters of the National Woman’s Party.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery reopened in 2015 after a two-year renovation. Drop by and see the new exhibit No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man.

Trend-Setting Food and Fermented Beverages

Visit one of DC’s growing line up of breweries and brewpubs. Some of our favorites include Right Proper in Shaw, 3 Stars Brewing Company near Takoma Metro, Blue Jacket by Nationals Park, and Atlas Brew Works in Ivy City.
Explore DC’s new crop of eateries, including Timber (wood-fired pizza near Petworth Metro), Bad Saint (a 24-seat Filipino eatery in Columbia Heights), China Chilcano (Peruvian-Japanese fusion near Gallery Place Metro), and Bindaas (Indian street-food by Cleveland Park Metro).

Theater and Music

DC’s Southwest Waterfront is undergoing a major rejuvenation, including the recent opening of three music venues (The Anthem, Pearl Street Warehouse, and Union Stage).
During the conference, the Kennedy Center will stage the 2016 Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Hamilton.

Sports

The city’s Major League Soccer team, D.C. United, will begin playing at its own dedicated soccer stadium at the Southwest Waterfront during summer 2018.
The Washington Nationals will host the All-Star Game this July and baseball excitement will be in the air as the National League East Champions continue to chase success in the playoffs.