Mary Ann Shadd Cary House
Historic house in Washington, D.C. Added to the National Register in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Mary Ann Shadd Cary House is a historic residence located at 1421 W Street, Northwest in Washington, D.C. From 1881 to 1893, it was the home of Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823–93), a writer and abolitionist who was one of the first African American female journalists in North America, and who became one of the first black female lawyers after the American Civil War. As part of a national effort by the Afro-American Bicentennial Corporation, the house was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 8, 1976, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also is a contributing property to the Greater U Street Historic District and the African American Heritage Trail in Washington, D.C.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Register name | Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, House |
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 1421 W. St., NW, Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | Dec 8, 1976 |
| Listed for | Black heritage, Literature, Education, Law, Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 76002128 |
| Type of place | house |
| Style | Renaissance Revival architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 1421 W. St., NW, Washington, DC |
| Coordinates | 38.9193° N, 77.0329° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Washington | 675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | African American Civil War Memorial · under a mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 3 miles · Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 5 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 8 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 2 records ↗
Map
Nearby in District of Columbia
Local history books for Washington
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Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Mary Ann Shadd Cary House listed on the National Register?
Dec 8, 1976. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
No public access is recorded. A National Register listing recognizes a place; it does not open it to visitors.
Source: National Park Service
Where is Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
1421 W. St., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The nearest national park unit is African American Civil War Memorial, under a mile away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc), 3 miles away. Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas is 5 miles away, and Greenbelt Park Ranger Station is 8 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Mary Ann Shadd Cary House?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 76002128. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.