Thaddeus Stevens School, Historic African American school building in West End, Washington, D.C.
The Thaddeus Stevens School is a historic school building in the West End neighborhood of Washington, D.C., built in the late 19th century. It is a brick structure several stories tall, with large windows and a facade that reflects the public school architecture common in the city at that time.
The school was founded shortly after the end of the Civil War to give Black children in Washington, D.C., access to public education. It was among the first government-funded schools in the city dedicated to serving that community.
The school is named after Thaddeus Stevens, a Pennsylvania congressman who fought for the rights of Black Americans in the 19th century. The building still functions as an early childhood center, so the connection between its name and its purpose remains alive today.
The building sits in the West End neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and is easy to see from the sidewalk. Since it operates as an active early childhood center, the interior is not open to the public, but the exterior can be viewed freely from the street.
Astronaut Fred Gregory, who became the first Black pilot of a Space Shuttle, attended this school. A number of other graduates went on to careers in medicine and the performing arts.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
