Clara Barton National Historic Site

The Clara Barton House is a residence from 1891 containing 38 rooms arranged around a central gallery with colored glass windows set into the ceiling. The rooms have been restored to show how the inhabitant lived and worked.

The house was built in 1891 as Clara Barton's residence and as the first headquarters of the American Red Cross. It served both purposes until 1912, when the organization relocated.

The house shows how Clara Barton organized her emergency work and lived day to day. Visitors see personal items and records that reveal her dedication to helping people during crises.

The site is located about 2 miles from Washington DC and is accessible through guided tours. The tours show restored rooms and allow visitors to see both work spaces and private areas throughout the building.

The building incorporates lumber salvaged from emergency shelters that the Red Cross built after the Johnstown Flood of 1889. This material was intentionally used in the new residence to preserve the connection to disaster relief work.

Location: Glen Echo

Address: 5801 Oxford Rd, Glen Echo, MD 20812

Website: https://nps.gov/clba

GPS coordinates: 38.96763,-77.14010

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41