Normal School for Colored Girls, school
The Normal School for Colored Girls was a school building constructed in Colonial Revival architecture, built in 1913 on Georgia Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The structure features symmetrical facades with tall windows and solid brick walls decorated with classical details, creating a dignified and straightforward appearance.
The school was founded in 1851 to train young Black women as teachers and was the first of its kind in the district. It began with only six students in a rented room but grew quickly and received an official charter from the U.S. Senate in 1863.
The school carried the name of its founder Myrtilla Miner and served as a place where young Black women could train themselves as teachers. It was more than just a classroom - it represented how Black communities could build their own educational opportunities, especially at a time when such chances were otherwise scarce.
The building is located on Georgia Avenue NW and is easy to spot thanks to its classical brick architecture and tall windows. Today it is used by Howard University for educational programs and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it accessible as a historic site for the public.
Myrtilla Miner, the founder, was a teacher from Mississippi who was rejected by her home state because she wanted to teach Black girls. She found support in Washington, D.C., from Quakers and prominent abolitionists like Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe, who backed the school with donations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
