National Home for Destitute Colored Women and Children, Women's shelter and orphanage in Washington, D.C., United States
The building at 733 Euclid Street NW is a brick structure that operated as both a shelter and orphanage, providing housing and daily care to women and children in distress. The interior contained classrooms, dormitory spaces, and areas for meals and activities throughout the building.
Founded in 1863 during the Civil War, the institution was created to shelter women and children fleeing enslavement who sought refuge in Washington. It evolved after the war to become the city's only private orphanage for Black children by the 1950s.
The building represents a chapter in Washington's civil rights history when private institutions stepped in to meet urgent community needs. Visitors can see how this place functioned as a safe space for families who had few other resources available to them.
The location is now a protected historic building that can be viewed from the street, with its original brick exterior clearly visible. Walking through the neighborhood allows visitors to understand the area's development and see other structures that share this part of Washington's history.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, more than 50 years after it ceased operations. This relatively recent recognition highlights how the stories of Black women and children have often been absent from official historical records.
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