Shaw Junior High School, structure in Washington, D.C., United States
Shaw Junior High School is a school building in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., built in 1902 in Romanesque Revival style. Constructed of buff-colored brick with limestone details and located at the corner of 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, the structure features distinctive arches on its upper floors.
The building opened in 1902 as William McKinley Manual Training School, originally serving white students with instruction in industrial trades alongside academics. In 1928 it was renamed Robert Gould Shaw Junior High School and began serving primarily African American students until the school relocated in 1977.
The building was named after Robert Gould Shaw, a Civil War leader of one of the first African American military units. This naming choice and the structure's role in the segregated school system reflect the neighborhood's identity and its connection to the struggle for equal rights.
The building stands at the corner of 7th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, making it easy to locate within the Shaw neighborhood. Its prominent location and distinctive Romanesque Revival features with upper-floor arches make it straightforward to visit and observe from the street.
The school was known for its active music program and band, which performed in major parades including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl. This musical achievement under director Lloyd Hoover brought recognition beyond the city and represents an often-overlooked aspect of the school's legacy.
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