Barry Farm, Historic African American settlement in Southeast Washington, United States
Barry Farm is a neighborhood that spans several blocks east of the Anacostia River, bordered by the Southeast Freeway and Suitland Parkway. The area consists of residential blocks, streets, and community facilities that reflect the everyday life of residents.
The Freedmen's Bureau purchased 375 acres from Julia Barry in 1867 to establish a settlement for formerly enslaved people seeking independence. This founding represented a significant step toward self-determination and economic self-sufficiency for Black communities after emancipation.
The street names honor Union generals and Freedmen's Bureau officials who supported Black Americans during the Civil War era. This naming reflects how the community maintains its connection to its freedom history.
The neighborhood maintains connections to downtown Washington through public transportation and provides access to community services. Visitors can best explore the area on foot to take in the street layout and residential character of the blocks.
Residents of Barry Farm led successful protests in 1949 that helped bring about the desegregation of public swimming pools in Washington. These actions demonstrated how the community took a stand for its rights and created change in the city.
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