The Smithsonian is teaching Washington-area residents how to identify and preserve items of historical and cultural significance that may be stored in their attics, basements, closets and garages.
The ``Save our African American Treasures'' program taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Carnegie Library in Washington is free. The event is being hosted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Historical Society of Washington.
The event includes presentations and preservation tips as well as hands-on activities. Participants can learn how to preserve and properly store clothing, family photographs and papers.
Participants can also bring up to three personal items for a 15-minute professional consultation on how to care for them. People who attend the event will get a guidebook on preservation technique.
