TOUR: WAMU American University Radio Guided Tour

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 
10:15 - 12:00 PM
4401 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008
Registration Required

Join us for a guided tour and a unique experience at WAMU. Our visit promises to be a fun and educational behind-the-scenes look at how a public radio station operates, as well as its relationship to National Public Radio (NPR). The tour will include a visit to WAMU’s radio production studios, performance spaces, operations and work areas.

We’re scheduled to observe Jenn White’s program 1A in progress, produced by WAMU. 1A's name is inspired by the First Amendment, and the program explores a wide variety of national and international issues involving policy, politics, and technology as well as subjects such as art and theater, pop culture and humor. The program is hosted by Jenn White and is distributed nationally by NPR.

WAMU’s first broadcast was in 1961 and helped form National Public Radio in 1971. WAMU is the leading public radio station for news and information in the greater Washington D.C. area. The station is member-supported, professionally staffed, and licensed to American University. WAMU’s audience totals almost 1 million listeners on-air, online, and on demand.

Meeting Place and Time
Please plan to arrive no later than 10:15am in the WAMU lobby on the first floor. OLLI’s tour coordinator, Elena Vejarano, will meet members there.

Getting There:
Metro Take the Red Line metro to Van Ness. Use the east exit (to your right). When you arrive at the street level Connecticut Avenue will be on your left. Walk north for half a block, WAMU 88.5 will be on your right. Above the building entrance, you will see “American University”.

Parking:
WAMU has limited parking available, and you must obtain a parking pass in advance. Please contact Allison Kennedy at [email protected] by February 19 to confirm availability. WAMU will send a parking pass by email.

Click on this link for additional information on getting to WAMU.