Frederick Douglass Historic Site

Frederick Douglass’s office.  Everything in the photo is original to the house.
Frederick Douglass’s office.  Everything in the photo is original to the house.
The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service, is located at 1411 W Street, SE, in Anacostia, a neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, D.C.. Established in 1988 as a National Historic Site, the site preserves the home and estate of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African Americans of the 19th century. Douglass lived in this house, which he named Cedar Hill, from 1877 until his death in 1895. Perched high on a hilltop, the site also offers a sweeping view of the U.S. Capitol and the Washington, D.C., skyline.
Frederick Douglass and his wife bought this house in 1877. Tours are available during the day and are very worthwhile. The visitor center as well as the movie they show are dated but also worthwhile.  Frederick was born a slave sometime around 1818 and would go on to become a highly respected abolitionist, newspaper owner/editor, civil rights advocate and staunch advocate for women’s rights. He would die in this home in 1895.
Frederick Douglass


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