The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) is a public, nonpartisan institute, founded by Congress with a mission to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict abroad. The Institute’s headquarters is located at the northwest corner of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and serves as a destination for the American public to learn about peacebuilding approaches and as a symbol of the United States’ commitment to global peace.
Visitors to USIP’s open houses learn more about conflict management, explore the institute’s iconic headquarters building, and meet USIP staff who work on peacebuilding around the world.
Previous Open Houses
The April 25 open house featured how USIP and others work for peace in Ukraine. Visitors attended “Storytelling on the National Mall” sessions to hear personal stories from Institute staff about working on the war in Ukraine, as well as Unissued Diplomas,” an exhibition highlighting the stories of young Ukrainians who have lost their lives in the war.
Aligned with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the May 28 open house featured stories of peacebuilding in East Asia and the Pacific Islands from USIP staff working on our Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative and from 2024 John Lewis Peace Fellows from the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Visitors also viewed multimedia exhibits, including live graphic recordings by Lizard Brain.
The June 28 open house focused on peacebuilding efforts in Haiti. Highlights included “Storytelling on the National Mall” sessions with USIP staff and 2024 John Lewis Peace Fellows, as well as multimedia exhibits.
The July 26 open house featured "Storytelling on the National Mall” sessions with USIP experts.
On September 21, USIP celebrated the International Day of Peace with the Peace Day Open House. Activities included building tours; Storytelling on the National Mall sessions; resources to explore peace themes on the National Mall and in Foggy Bottom; interactive stations for adults and children that explored peacebuilding skills and tools; and opportunities to take action for peace and connect with a global network of peacebuilders using #PeaceDayChallenge.