'American Pickers' In DC, Virginia: How To Get On The Show

WASHINGTON, DC — Collectors with a barn or basement full of clutter are in luck. The History Channel’s documentary series “American Pickers” wants to see and film your treasures in the D.C. area and Virginia in May. Show hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz will dig through barns, storage sheds and houses across D.C., West Virginia and Delaware for hidden gems and vintage items that may have been given up as junk, according to an announcement by the show's producers.

The show, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesdays, features the collectors whom Wolfe and Fritz meet along the way. Some stops are planned in advance, or sometimes the guys just drop in on interesting properties when old vehicles or signs catch their eye. The show announced earlier that the Pickers will be in Maryland in May, too.

The duo typically looks for collections that include toys, unusual radios, movie memorabilia, military items, folk art, early firefighting equipment, vintage musical equipment, automotive items, clothing and one-of-a-kind vintage memorabilia. They are most interested in items that have an great story behind them and in exploring a site with a large, private collection of antiques that would take most of a day to sort through, the show says in a news release. (SIGN UP: Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook.)

If you think your place would be a worthy destination, submit your name, phone number, location, and a description of your collection with photos to americanpickers@caneflix.com, on Facebook, or by calling 1-855-OLD-RUST.

“Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before,” according to a news release announcing the May visit. “They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.”

They only pick private collections; as a result, the following are exempt from being on "American Pickers": malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses or anything open to the public.

If you’re unfamiliar with the show, “this isn’t your grandmother’s antiquing,” according to the “American Pickers” website, which says Wolfe and Fritz “are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land.”

“If you think the antique business is all about upscale boutiques and buttoned-up dealers, this show may change your mind – and teach you a thing or two about American history along the way,” the website says.

»Image credit: Frank Fritz, left, and Mike Wolfe via The History Channel