Sewall-Belmont House and Museum
Encyclopedia
The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, located in the Capitol Hill
neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
, United States, is a historic house and museum
of the U.S. women's suffrage
and equal-rights movements.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1974.
It was built on a tract of land originally granted to Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
by King Charles I of England
. The property was divided several times, and it was Daniel Carroll
who ultimately ceded much of the land to the United States as a site for the new capital. After Washington was laid out, Carroll bought a small parcel of land and in 1799 sold the property to Robert Sewall. According to his tax records, Sewall built the main house in 1800. He attached it to a small one-room farmhouse believed by some experts to date from 1750. Tradition has it that British troops set fire to the house during the War of 1812
. It is believed that gunshots from or behind the Sewall residence provoked the attack.
The house has undergone several architectural changes and restorations. The house remained in the possession of Sewall descendants until 1922, when it was purchased by Senator Porter H. Dale
of Vermont. In 1929, Dale sold it to the National Woman's Party
, and it has been the party's headquarters ever since.
Today, the house is also a museum that houses many banners, documents, pieces of furniture, and other artifacts of the women's suffrage and equal rights movement, as well as sculptures and portraits of women involved in the movements.
The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum is located at 144 Constitution Ave., NE, and the public entrance is on 2nd Street, NE, next to the Hart Senate Office Building. It is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm. Guided tours and group tours must be scheduled in advance by visiting the website www.sewallbelmont.org. The nearest Metro
stop is Union Station
.http://www.cr.nps.gov/Nr/travel/wash/dc82.htm
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Capitol Hill, aside from being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington D.C., stretching easterly in front of the United States Capitol along wide avenues...
neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States, is a historic house and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of the U.S. women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and equal-rights movements.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1974.
It was built on a tract of land originally granted to Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, 1st Proprietor and 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 9th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland , was an English peer who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland. He received the proprietorship after the death of his father, George Calvert, the...
by King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. The property was divided several times, and it was Daniel Carroll
Daniel Carroll
Daniel Carroll was a politician and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a prominent member of one of the United States' great colonial Catholic families, whose members included his younger brother Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States and...
who ultimately ceded much of the land to the United States as a site for the new capital. After Washington was laid out, Carroll bought a small parcel of land and in 1799 sold the property to Robert Sewall. According to his tax records, Sewall built the main house in 1800. He attached it to a small one-room farmhouse believed by some experts to date from 1750. Tradition has it that British troops set fire to the house during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. It is believed that gunshots from or behind the Sewall residence provoked the attack.
The house has undergone several architectural changes and restorations. The house remained in the possession of Sewall descendants until 1922, when it was purchased by Senator Porter H. Dale
Porter H. Dale
Porter Hinman Dale was a member of both the United States House of Representatives and later the United States Senate from Vermont.-Early life and career:Dale was born in Island Pond, Vermont in 1867....
of Vermont. In 1929, Dale sold it to the National Woman's Party
National Woman's Party
The National Woman's Party , was a women's organization founded by Alice Paul in 1915 that fought for women's rights during the early 20th century in the United States, particularly for the right to vote on the same terms as men...
, and it has been the party's headquarters ever since.
Today, the house is also a museum that houses many banners, documents, pieces of furniture, and other artifacts of the women's suffrage and equal rights movement, as well as sculptures and portraits of women involved in the movements.
The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum is located at 144 Constitution Ave., NE, and the public entrance is on 2nd Street, NE, next to the Hart Senate Office Building. It is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm. Guided tours and group tours must be scheduled in advance by visiting the website www.sewallbelmont.org. The nearest Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
stop is Union Station
Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
.http://www.cr.nps.gov/Nr/travel/wash/dc82.htm
External links
- Sewall-Belmont House & Museum, official site