Alma Thomas House

Alma Thomas House at 1530 15th Street Northwest displays Italianate architectural elements with detailed window frames and decorative cornices from 1875. The structure retains its original design within the Fourteenth Street Historic District and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Frederick Douglass's daughter Rosa Douglass Sprague lived in this house before Alma Thomas and her family moved here in 1907. The building was constructed in 1875 and later became a significant site for artistic creation during the 20th century.

The residence served as home and creative studio for Alma Thomas, an artist who produced vibrant abstract paintings here throughout her career. The space reflects her deep connection to artistic practice and the broader African American art community.

The house is located in a historically significant neighborhood with many other buildings of interest nearby. Visitors should view the original architecture from the exterior and explore the surrounding area to understand the context of the era.

Alma Thomas earned her fine arts degree from Howard University, an achievement that was extraordinary for an African American woman in the 1920s. Her paintings created here eventually entered the collections of the White House and the National Gallery of Art.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1875

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Part of: Fourteenth Street Historic District

Address: 1530 15th Street Northwest

GPS coordinates: 38.91070,-77.03455

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:42