Washington, DC

Father Patrick F Healy & Georgetown University
DESCRIPTION: 1st African American Jesuit and president of a non-historically Black American college in 1874; best known for turning this once small college into a major institution; built in 1879 the Healy Building still dominates the campus; he's buried in the Jesuit cemetery on campus

ADDRESS: 37th and O Streets, NW  MAP

Mount Zion Cemetery & Female Union Band Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: A byproduct of Georgetown being predominantly African American until the 1940's, these are the oldest predominantly Black burial grounds; they nearly suffered "urban renewal" until concerned citizens rallied to get them declared historic landmarks in 1976

ADDRESS: 2700 Q Street, NW  MAP

Whitehurst Freeway
DESCRIPTION: built by Archie A Alexander's general contracting firm; Alexander was the last man captured during the Fugitive Slave Law; Alexander helped open construction trades in DC and appointed Governor of US Virgin Islands, 1954

ADDRESS: extending north from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial  MAP

Blair House
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1824; in 1836, Francis Preston Blair, Sr., a member of Andrew Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet" purchased the house; moving to a country house in Maryland in the 1840s, the Blairs rented it to many notable tenants; in 1852, the Blairs moved back; Montgomery Blair, son of Francis Preston, became a trusted advisor to President Lincoln before and during the Civil War; Montgomery was instrumental in forming the free soil (Non-Slave State) movement within the Republican Party and in holding Maryland out of the Confederacy; this National Historic Landmark now serves as the official guesthouse of the President and the Obama Family stayed here shortly before the Inauguration

ADDRESS: 1651-1653 Pennsylvania Ave NW  MAP

Independence Federal Savings Bank
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1968; one of the 10 largest Black banks per Black Enterprise magazine

ADDRESS: 1229 Connecticut Ave, NW  MAP

PHONE: 202-628-5500

Gage School
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1904, this 21,000 sq. ft. building was an elementary school that educated many African Americans; recently purchased by Howard University for renovation

ADDRESS: 2035 2nd Street, NW  MAP

Griffith Stadium Site
DESCRIPTION: Although the former Washington Senators of MLB played here Negro Leagues Baseball teams made it famous; Washington Elite Giants, Le Droit Barons, Washington Pilots and the Homestead Grays played here; the champion Grays featuring Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson, played here when the Senators were out of town, and usually drew more fans

ADDRESS: formerly at the site of Howard University Hospital  MAP 

Duke Ellington Residence
DESCRIPTION: Duke (1899-1974) began studying piano at age 7 here; he has influenced by Eubie Blake and Fats Waller while in his teens; this world renown musician, composer and self-taught arranger made his professional debut at age 17 in DC; he has received every honor one can bestow on a musical genius, including the title of one of America's greatest composers; not open to public

ADDRESS: 1212 T Street, NW  MAP

Howard Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1910, it was one of the first legitimate Black theatres; it joined the likes of the Apollo Theatre in New York, Royal Theatre in Baltimore, and the Regal Theatre in Chicago on the national Chitlin' Circuit for like Pearl Bailey, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, and others; not open to public

ADDRESS: 624 T Street, NW  MAP

Mary Church Terrell Residence
DESCRIPTION: Terrell (1863-1954) was a civil rights warrior with a sparkling resume; she taught at the famous M Street high school; she became the first president of the National Association of Negro Women in 1896; she was a renown public speaker for women's suffrage; she filed the case which led the US Supreme court to desegregate public places in 1953; not open to public

ADDRESS: 326 T Street, NW  MAP

Arena Stage - Club Bali
DESCRIPTION: One of many nightclubs that made U Street a mecca for music lovers in the Jazz era from the 1920s-1960s; Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Jordan, Lester Young, and many, many more

ADDRESS: 1901 14th Street  MAP

Evans-Tibbs Residence
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1894, was the home of Lillian Evans Tibbs; she was known as Madame Evanti, the first internationally African American opera star; the building was designed by R.E. Crump; not open to public

ADDRESS: 1910 Vermont Avenue  MAP

Dunbar Hotel
DESCRIPTION: Named for Paul Laurence Dunbar; this 6-story building was originally built as in 1897, an apartment house for white residents; as Dunbar Hotel it contained 485 bedrooms with baths. Like the nearby Whitelaw Hotel, the Dunbar's guests included public figures and major entertainers appearing in the theaters along U Street; by the late 1950s, downtown began desegregating and the Dunbar Hotel lost its traditional clientele; today the building houses a bank

ADDRESS: 15th Street between U and V streets, NW  MAP

Paul Lawrence Dunbar Residence
DESCRIPTION: Dunbar (1872-1906) published his 1st poetry book in 1892 and skyrocketed to international fame; upon marrying Alice Moore in 1896 the studious couple arguably formed the cultural hub of African American society in LeDroit Park; not open to public

ADDRESS: 321 U Street, NW  MAP

Carter G. Woodson Residence
DESCRIPTION: Woodson (1875-1950) was the Father of Black History Week, which was later expanded to a month in 1976; a largely self-taught youth who rose from the coal mines to a Doctorate in History from Harvard; outspoken advocate to recognize the contributions of African Americans in history books; founded Association for the Study of Negro Life and History here; not open to public

ADDRESS: 1538 9th Street, NW  MAP
WEBSITE: link

LeDroit Park Residences
DESCRIPTION: Premier district for middle class African Americans in DC from 1900-1950

ADDRESS: 400 block of U Street & 500 block of T Streets, NW  MAP

Senator Edward Brooke Residence
DESCRIPTION: Born 1919 and raised here; received the military's Bronze Star; elected Attorney General of Massachusetts; first African American elected by popular vote to the US Senate, where he served from 1966-1978; not open to public

ADDRESS: 1938 3rd Street, NW  MAP

Anna J. Cooper Memorial Circle
DESCRIPTION:  Cooper (1858-1964) was a former slave who became a Latin teacher and principal of M Street High School for 40 years; her M Street graduates were possibly the 1st African Americans from public schools to enter Ivy League colleges; earned her doctorate at 67; not open to public

ADDRESS: 201 T Street  MAP

Dunbar High School
Formerly M Street High School (closed); Dunbar became a premier high school for African Americans in the early 1900s; graduates frequently entered northern universities without special entrance exams; earned "Blue Ribbon School" designation by the US Dept of Education in the 1990s

ADDRESS: 1st Street between N and O Streets  MAP

Whitelaw Hotel Site
In 1919 businessman John Whitelaw Lewis commissioned the first luxury hotel and meeting place built by African Americans; Isaiah T Hatton architect; Lewis also founded the Industrial Savings Bank; currently an apartment complex

ADDRESS: 1839 13th Street, NW  MAP

Anthony Bowen YMCA
Bowen purchased his freedom from slavery, 1853; convinced YMCA leadership to open a branch for African Americans; as a Patent Office clerk in 1867 helped influence Congress to build a public school for African Americans; this site was built 1912 after a massive interracial fundraising effort in Bowen's honor, architect William S Pittman; now a family and youth fitness center with a pool

ADDRESS: 1816 12th Street, NW  MAP

PHONE: 202-462-1054

George Bell's School Site
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1807; Bell and two colleagues who worked at the Washington Navy Yard built the first school to educate African American youth; to reduce the chances of a racist attack on the school, he posted an ad in a white newspaper to indicate that no writings would be taught to slaves

ADDRESS: 3rd and D Streets, SE  MAP

Freedman's Savings Bank Site
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1865 it quickly became a symbol of AA economic progress; although Frederick Douglass tried to rescue the bank in 1874, prior mismanagement and fraud caused its collapse in 1875; remember this -- it protected the paychecks of returning African American Civil War veterans

ADDRESS: Pennsylvania Ave at Madison Place, NW  MAP

Capital Savings Bank Site
DESCRIPTION: On the site of the newly built MCI Center for sports stood the first privately owned African American Bank founded in 1888; although the site was given National Historic Landmark status in 1975; this bank was a particularly important institution during the Reconstruction Era since it helped many businesses and property owners until it closed in 1902; the Verizon Center stands there today

ADDRESS: formerly at 609 F Street, NW  MAP

Senator Blanche K. Bruce Residence
DESCRIPTION: Bruce (1841-1898) escaped slavery and became the first African American to serve a full term in the US Senate beginning in 1875; also served as Registrar of the US Treasury and as DC Recorder of Deeds; not open to public

ADDRESS: 909 M Street, NW  MAP

Charles E. Sumner Museum & Archives
DESCRIPTION: This site was the first school built for African Americans in DC; features permanent exhibits of Charles Sumner, a Black US Senator during Reconstruction and Frederick Douglass

DAYS & HOURS: open by appt

ADDRESS: 17th Street at M Street  MAP

PHONE: 202-727-3129

Recorder of Deeds Building
DESCRIPTION: Since 1881, when Frederick Douglass was appointed Recorder of Deeds by the President, that position has been held almost exclusively by African Americans; this 1941 Art Deco building's interior features murals portraying heroes including Douglass, Crispus Attucks, Benjamin Banneker, Matthew Henson, and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30a-4:30p

ADDRESS: 515 D Street, NW  MAP

Frederick Douglass 1st DC Residence
DESCRIPTION: The home showcases a Douglass memorabilia and furnishings; it is currently home to the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans, which offers seven galleries of photography, art, and exhibits honoring National Caring Award recipients

ADDRESS: 320 A Street, NE  MAP

PHONE: 202-544-6130

WEBSITE: http:// www.caringinstitute.org

Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Residence
DESCRIPTION: Bunche (1904-1971) commissioned Hilyard Robinson to design this building; while teaching at Howard, Bunche organized its Political Science Dept; 1st Black Ambassador to the United Nations

ADDRESS: 1250 H Street, NW  MAP

Frederick Douglass Cedar Hill Residence
DESCRIPTION: This National Historic Site is dedicated to the "Father of the Civil Rights Movement" (1818-1895); self-educated, accomplished orator, and author for the abolition cause; Douglass counseled President Lincoln and urged Blacks to join the Union Army; after the Civil War he helped many obtain citizenship and the right to vote; in 1877 he purchased this house on Cedar Hill which still has original furnishings; has was appointed US Marshal for DC, DC Recorder of Deeds and US Minister to Haiti; adjacent visitor's center features a documentary film on his life

ADDRESS: 1411 W Street, SE  MAP

PHONE: 202-426-5960