diff --git a/fedireads/models/__init__.py b/fedireads/models/__init__.py
index 52cedf624..deb54867e 100644
--- a/fedireads/models/__init__.py
+++ b/fedireads/models/__init__.py
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ from .status import Favorite, Boost, Tag, Notification, ReadThrough
 from .user import User, UserFollows, UserFollowRequest, UserBlocks
 from .user import FederatedServer
 from .import_job import ImportJob, ImportItem
+from .site import SiteSettings
diff --git a/fedireads/models/site.py b/fedireads/models/site.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8068e4a13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/models/site.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from django.db import models
+from fedireads.settings import DOMAIN
+
+class SiteSettings(models.Model):
+    name = models.CharField(default=DOMAIN, max_length=100)
+    instance_description = models.TextField(
+        default="This instance has no description.")
+    code_of_conduct = models.TextField(
+        default="Add a code of conduct here.")
+    allow_registration = models.BooleanField(default=True)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get(cls):
+        try:
+            return cls.objects.get(id=1)
+        except cls.DoesNotExist:
+            default_settings = SiteSettings(id=1)
+            default_settings.save()
+            return default_settings
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/about.html b/fedireads/templates/about.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..58cc385d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fedireads/templates/about.html
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{% extends 'layout.html' %}
+{% block content %}
+<div class="content-container">
+    <h2>About {{ site_settings.name }}</h2>
+    <p>
+    {{ site_settings.instance_description }}
+    </p>
+
+    <p>
+    <small>
+    <a href="/login/">Login or Create an Account</a>
+    </small>
+    </p>
+
+    <h2>Code of Conduct</h2>
+    <p>
+    {{ site_settings.code_of_conduct }}
+    </p>
+
+</div>
+{% endblock %}
diff --git a/fedireads/templates/login.html b/fedireads/templates/login.html
index d811815ce..ce6e75ce7 100644
--- a/fedireads/templates/login.html
+++ b/fedireads/templates/login.html
@@ -1,7 +1,20 @@
 {% extends 'layout.html' %}
 {% block content %}
-<div class="row">
 
+<div class="content-container">
+    <h2>About {{ site_settings.name }}</h2>
+    <p>
+    {{ site_settings.instance_description }}
+    </p>
+
+    <p>
+    <small>
+        <a href="/about/">More about this site</a>
+    </small>
+    </p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="row">
 <div class="content-container login">
     <h2>Create an Account</h2>
     <p><small>
@@ -9,6 +22,7 @@
         friends here and on any other federated server, like Mastodon and PixelFed.
     </small></p>
 
+    {% if site_settings.allow_registration %}
     <div>
         <form name="register" method="post" action="/register">
             {% csrf_token %}
@@ -16,6 +30,12 @@
             <button type="submit">Create account</button>
         </form>
     </div>
+    {% else %}
+
+    <small>
+    This instance is not open for registration.
+    </small>
+    {% endif %}
 </div>
 
 <div class="content-container login">
diff --git a/fedireads/urls.py b/fedireads/urls.py
index 30793a502..14ae6f4b7 100644
--- a/fedireads/urls.py
+++ b/fedireads/urls.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
 
     # ui views
     re_path(r'^login/?$', views.login_page),
+    re_path(r'^about/?$', views.about_page),
 
     path('', views.home),
     re_path(r'^(?P<tab>home|local|federated)/?$', views.home_tab),
diff --git a/fedireads/views.py b/fedireads/views.py
index 3d61bb53c..46824ce78 100644
--- a/fedireads/views.py
+++ b/fedireads/views.py
@@ -208,12 +208,21 @@ def login_page(request):
     ''' authentication '''
     # send user to the login page
     data = {
+        'site_settings': models.SiteSettings.get(),
         'login_form': forms.LoginForm(),
         'register_form': forms.RegisterForm(),
     }
     return TemplateResponse(request, 'login.html', data)
 
 
+def about_page(request):
+    ''' more information about the instance '''
+    data = {
+        'site_settings': models.SiteSettings.get(),
+    }
+    return TemplateResponse(request, 'about.html', data)
+
+
 @login_required
 def notifications_page(request):
     ''' list notitications '''