Twelfth Street YMCA Building

The Twelfth Street YMCA Building is a Renaissance Revival structure with red brick walls and limestone trim located in the Shaw neighborhood. The four-story facility contained fifty-four sleeping rooms, a heated swimming pool, and various gathering spaces for students and residents.

Anthony Bowen founded the first African American YMCA branch in the United States at this location in 1853 after purchasing his own freedom. The current building opened in 1912 and was made possible through Rockefeller funding.

This building served as a gathering place for civil rights organizations and hosted writers like Langston Hughes who stayed here. It became a social center where the local African American community could meet and organize.

The building is centrally located and accessible by public transportation throughout the city. Visitors should explore the surrounding streets to fully appreciate the architecture and understand the historical neighborhood context.

The architect William Sidney Pittman, son-in-law of Booker T. Washington, designed this building and was among the first Black architects in the nation. His work on this project showcased the design talents of African American professionals during a time when such achievements were uncommon.

Location: Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.91472,-77.04028

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:02