A celebration of Black History Month in DC with by learning about a few statues and memorials dedicated to famous African-Americans.
Gravelly Point, A Photo Essay
Gravelly Point is a park located northwest of National Airport and provides a viewing area of planes takeoff and landing. Gravelly Point is part of the National Park Service’ George Washington Member Parkway.
Hahnemann Memorial
Statue: Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (April 10, 1755 – July 2, 1843) Location: Scott Circle, Massachusetts and Rhode Island at 16th Street, NW Sculptor: Charles Henry Niehaus, New York Architect: Isralis and Harder Dedication: June 21, 1900 Cost: $75,000 (most raised by subscription) Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was a German physician, known for creating the…
John Saul
Memorial:John Saul Location: E Street NW, northeast area of the Ellipse John Saul was born in Lismore County, Ireland, December 25, 1819. He was educated in landscape gardening, and managed large nurseries on the Isle of Wight and then in Bristol, England before moving to Washington, D.C. In 1851 he came to Washington and was…
Wharf and East Potomac Park Jitney
The other day I was riding my bike around Hains Point when a helpful NPS Ranger asked if I knew about the ferry. When I told him I didn’t, he shared the details with me. Thanks, #NPSRanger. Throughout the summer (April – November), the Wharf runs a jitney across the Washington Channel to East Potomac…
Jean Jules Jusserand
Memorial: Jean Adrien Antoine Jules Jusserand (18 February 1855 – 18 July 1932) Location: Rock Creek Park, .25 mile south of Pierce Mill Architect: Joseph Freedlander, New York architect Dedication: November 7, 1936, 2 pm Cost: $0 to taxpayers Jean Adrien Antoine Jules Jusserand (February 18, 1855 – July 18, 1932) was French Ambassador to…
Samuel Gompers
Statue: Samuel Gompers (January 27, 1850 – December 13, 1924) Location: Massachusetts Avenue, NW, between 10th and 11 Streets Dedication: October 8, 1933, 10AM Samuel Gompers was born in England where he was educated. When he was 13 his family moved to New York City. His father was a cigar maker, and Samuel became a…
Fort Leslie McNair
Fort McNair was built in 1791, and is the third oldest Army installation in continuous use since the founding of the United States. The other two are West Point and Carlisle barracks, Carlisle, Pa. The installation has been an arsenal, a penitentiary, a hospital, a troop training post, and now a center for higher education….