Frederick Douglass Caretakers Cottage

Constructed in 1922, this cottage served as the residence for the site's caretaker. The caretaker, along with other members of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association, managed and preserved the property from 1903 until it became a NPS site in 1962. Inscriptions In Loving Memory of "The Guardian Angel of Cedar Hill" Gladys B. Parham 1906-1983 In recognition of her steadfast dedication to the preservation and maintenance of the Frederick Douglass Home.

• (523 words) The Frederick Douglass House is located in the southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. bordered by W Street SE to the north, 15th street to the east, and 14th Street to the west. The house sits high atop a steep hill and the property encompasses the entire block. A black iron gate set atop a cement retaining wall surrounds the area. A visitor center is located at street level at the corner of W and 15th Streets. A parking lot to the north of the visitor center is accessible on W Street. Stairs to the right of the visitor center entrance lead up to a road that winds up to the house at the top of the hill. A red brick sidewalk lines the south side of W Street and stairs lead straight up to the house at the middle of the block. A road leads into the property from 14th Street at the intersection with W Street, passes by the front of the house at mid-level up the hill, and continues to rise as it winds around to the back of the house at the top of the hill. Two metal railings line the brick center stairs that rise from street level through a grass hill lawn on both sides to the front door of the house. The tan-painted, two-story home features a sweeping forty-foot long porch with four white round columns. The double-hung white front door is bracketed by two floor-to-ceiling windows on each side with dark gray shutters. Tall evergreen trees are set on both sides of the house and the view from atop the hill provides sweeping views of downtown Washington including the Capitol building. Immediately behind the house is a white, fifty-foot long, one-story cottage home with a red roof and porch on the west side, closest to the main house. Three windows line the east and west sides of the house. Two windows sit along the back with a half-moon window above. Red brick walkways lines both sides. On the wall left of the front door, under the porch, is a one by two-foot bronze plaque with a gold border. An engraving on the plaque reads: In Loving Memory of "The Guardian Angel of Cedar Hill" Gladys B. Parham 1906-1983 In recognition of her steadfast dedication to the preservation and maintenance of the Frederick Douglass Home Erected by Frederick Douglass Memorial And Historical Association 1987 Behind the house is an eighty-foot long stretch of grass lawn that leads back to a circular paved road loop with a tree in its center. The road from 14th Street winds up to this location. About thirty feet east of the circle is a small one-story stone building, twelve feet wide and nine feet deep with a chimney on its right side. The building is bracketed by trees and shrubs. To the south of the circle set on a hill in front of a grass field is a partially constructed brick wall, about twenty feet across, five-feet-tall and the depth of two bricks. A smaller wall about ten feet long and two feet tall sits at the southwest corner of the circle. END OF DESCRIPTION

Frederick Douglass NHS Visitor Center

Begin your visit to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site here. Ranger staff will orient you to the site. In addition, the Visitor Center offers restrooms and a gift shop as well as some exhibits. The introductory movie highlights Douglass's life before moving to Anacostia. A tour of Douglass's home is a must after the visitor center.

• Visitors begin their tour of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site here at the Visitor Center. Ranger staff will orient you to the site. In addition, the Visitor Center offers restrooms and a gift shop as well as some exhibits. The introductory movie highlights Douglass's life before moving to Anacostia.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves and interprets Cedar Hill, where Frederick Douglass lived from 1877 until his death in 1895.

• A large, historic two-story home stands on a hill overlooking Washington DC.

Frederick Douglass: Carriage House and stable remains

The Douglass Home represented a rural oasis from the busy urban environment. A stable and carriage house were located near here. In addition, an orchard stood on the nearby hill.

• (415 words) The Frederick Douglass House is located in the southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. bordered by W Street SE to the north, 15th Street to the east, and 14th Street to the west. The house sits high atop a steep hill and the property encompasses the entire block. A black iron gate set atop a cement retaining wall surrounds the area. A visitor center is located at street level at the corner of W and 15th Streets. A parking lot to the north of the visitor center is accessible on W Street. Stairs to the right of the visitor center entrance lead up to a road that winds up to the house at the top of the hill. A red brick sidewalk lines the south side of W Street and stairs lead straight up to the house at the middle of the block. A road leads into the property from 14th Street at the intersection with W Street, passes by the front of the house at mid-level up the hill, and continues to rise as it winds around to the back of the house at the top of the hill. Two metal railings line the brick center stairs that rise from street level through a grass hill lawn on both sides to the front door of the house. The tan-painted, two-story home features a sweeping forty-foot long porch with four white round columns. Tall evergreen trees are set on both sides of the house and the view from atop the hill provides sweeping views of downtown Washington including the Capitol building. Immediately behind the house is a white, one-story cottage home with porch on the west side closest to the main house. It also features a red roof. Further back is an eighty-foot long stretch of grass lawn that leads back to a circular paved road loop with a tree in its center. The road from 14th Street winds up to this location and around a small one-story stone building, bracketed by trees and shrubs before turning into the circle. To the south of the circle set on a hill in front of a grass field is a partially constructed brick wall, about twenty feet across, five-feet-tall and the depth of two bricks. A smaller wall about ten feet long and two feet tall sits at the southwest corner of the circle. Further south is an open field that runs back about two hundred feet and is bordered by trees to the east, west and south. END OF DESCRIPTION

Frederick Douglass: The Growlery

The 19th century equivalent of the "man cave," Douglass's "Growlery" was a place where he could sit and work at his desk without distraction.

• (632 words) The Frederick Douglass House is located in the southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. bordered by W Street SE to the north, 15th Street to the east, and 14th Street to the west. The house sits high atop a steep hill and the property encompasses the entire block. A black iron gate set atop a cement retaining wall surrounds the area. A visitor center is located at street level at the corner of W and 15th Streets. A parking lot to the north of the visitor center is accessible on W Street. Stairs to the right of the visitor center entrance lead up to a road that winds up to the house at the top of the hill. A red brick sidewalk lines the south side of W Street and stairs lead straight up to the house at the middle of the block. A road leads into the property from 14th Street at the intersection with W Street, passes by the front of the house at mid-level up the hill, and continues to rise as it winds around to the back of the house at the top of the hill. Two metal railings line the brick center stairs that rise from street level through a grass hill lawn on both sides to the front door of the house. The tan-painted, two-story home features a sweeping forty-foot long porch with four white round columns. The double-hung white front door is bracketed by two floor-to-ceiling windows on each side with dark gray shutters. Tall evergreen trees are set on both sides of the house and the view from atop the hill provides sweeping views of downtown Washington including the Capitol building. Immediately behind the house is a white, fifty-foot long, one-story cottage home with a red roof and porch on the west side, closest to the main house. Behind the house is an eighty-foot long stretch of grass lawn that leads back to a circular paved road loop with a tree in its center. The road from 14th Street winds up to this location. In the southeast corner of the grass lawn, about thirty feet east of the circle, is a small one-story stone building, twelve feet wide and nine feet deep with a chimney on its right side. The building is bracketed by trees and shrubs. About fifty feet north of the building, along the right side of a red brick walkway that leads to it, sits a two by three-foot wayside. Written in black letters in the upper left corner the sign is titled: Frederick Douglass's Rustic Retreat Text below describes Frederick Douglass's retreat cabin: Where do you go when you do not want to be disturbed? Frederick Douglass came to this tiny stone cabin that he called the Growlery. Coined by Charles Dickens, the word "Growlery" literally means a place to growl. Douglass kept his Growlery simply furnished with a desk, stool, and couch. He retreated here to do some of his deep thinking, reading, and writing in seclusion. The structure in front of you is a reconstruction. It was rebuilt in 1981 on the Growlery's exact location using materials salvaged from the original building. The full background of the sign is a black and white photograph of the building, showing a small one-story stone structure with brick chimney, no windows and a wooden door. A bush the height of the building grows alongside the left corner. Text below reads: The Growlery around 1893. An orchard once stood behind it. To the south of the circle set on a hill in front of a grass field is a partially constructed brick wall, about twenty feet across, five-feet-tall and the depth of two bricks. A smaller wall about ten feet long and two feet tall sits at the southwest corner of the circle. END OF DESCRIPTION

Frederick Douglass NHS Visitor Center

• Frederick Douglass NHS Visitor Center
• The Visitor Center of the Frederick Douglass NHS is located at the bottom of the hill near the parking lot. Inside of the Visitor Center you will find staff who can facilitate your visit, a bookstore run by America's National Parks, handicap accessible restrooms, a water fountain, exhibits and historic objects, as well as a theater with seating, where a 20 minute closed-captioned film on the life of Frederick Douglass is played.

• Become a Frederick Douglass NHS Junior Ranger
• To become a Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Junior Ranger, you can either visit the site or download our Junior Ranger Book. Once completed, mail your book to 1411 W Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20020 or you can email it to douglassnhs@nps.gov. A Park Ranger will sign your certificate and mail your official Junior Ranger badge.

• Places of Interest Related to Frederick Douglass
• Visitors can explore nearby historical sites and parks in the Washington, D.C. area related to the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass, African American History, and Women's History.

• Frederick Douglass NHS Bookstore
• Operated by America's National Parks, the bookstore sells unique educational products and books related to Frederick Douglass and African American History.

• Frederick Douglass NHS Visitor Center
• The Visitor Center at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is a single-level building at street level where you will find an information desk where a ranger or volunteer is stationed, exhibits, restrooms, and other information.

• Discover Frederick Douglass’s Home
• Explore the home of Frederick Douglass, a leading voice in the abolitionist movement.

Frederick Douglass's Journey: As He Saw It & How Others Saw Him

In "Frederick Douglass's Journey," you will hear many of the significant moments in Mr. Douglass's life, often as remembered by him. The historical writings of others who knew him will fill in the narrative as you travel across some of the highlights of this human rights champion's 77 years of life. Explore a deeper look beneath the surface level at what motivated Frederick Douglass, and find plenty of places to continue your own journey further. What motivates you?