Artifacts from the past can provide important information to historians and others. These everyday objects are often collected by businesses, churches, and schools. They can also be found among the personal collections of every day folks.

These special household treasures from Anacostia held special meaning for families and can explain how people lived and what was important in their lives.

Collection: Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture.

This pitcher was unearthed during an archeological dig when the Washington Metro train line was built to run through the community in 1999. It shows that, during the late 1800s, some of the residents were middle class. The pitcher is made of porcelain. Because of its size (10 inches high), it could have been used to pour water into a portable basin for washing hands.

John Robinson (1912-1994) painted many scenes of family, friends, and Washington, D.C. He also enjoyed painting his favorite flower—the lilac.

Here, Look at Mine was painted by the late artist John Robinson in 1980.

In this work, the artist documents his grandchildren painting and drawing during one of their many visits to his home. Robinson moved to the Garfield Heights section of Anacostia in 1929.

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