U Street Corridor in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Place to Grow
Anthony Bowen YMCA
— Greater U Street Heritage Trail —
You are standing at the fourth home of the Anthony Bowen YMCA, named for the formerly enslaved minister who founded the nation's first independent "colored" YMCA. As the YMCA opened in Washington in 1853, slavery was legal. Yet the majority of the city's African Americans were free and faced daily segregation and exclusion from public facilities. These city dwellers needed a place to develop positive spiritual, physical, and social lives.
At first the YMCA operated in Reverend Bowen's Southwest Washington home, rented rooms, donated spaces, and a building owned briefly on 11th Street, NW. Then the Reverend Jesse E. Moorland incorporated the club in 1905 as the "colored" branch of the YMCA of the City of Washington. Moorland led the fundraising for the YMCA building that welcomed the community at 1816 12th Street, NW in 1912. For 50 years, it was the only YMCA in the District serving African Americans.
Educator and civil rights champion E.B. Henderson introduced basketball to African Americans in DC at the YMCA in 1907. He led the Washington 12 Streeters to victory in the 1910 World Colored Basketball Championships. Future NBA star Elgin Baylor found pick-up games at the Y during the 1940s. Scores of workers, athletes politicians, artists, professionals, and young people found support within the YMCA's
this page online
The Bowen YMCA (renamed in 1972 to pay homage to its founder) closed its historic Twelfth Street facility in 1982 when the rundown building was declared unsafe. The branch re-opened in 1987 in the former Hillcrest Children's Center on this spot to continue providing education, refuge, from troubled times, development of the mind, body, spirit, and community — the same services first offered by Reverend Bowen in his home.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Greater U Street Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.
Location. 38° 55.157′ N, 77° 1.908′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in U Street Corridor. Marker is at the intersection of 14th Street Northwest and W Street Northwest on 14th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2211 14th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary Ann Shadd Cary House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mary Ann Shadd Cary Residence
Also see . . . Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage/12th Street YMCA Site. African American Heritage Trail (Submitted on December 29, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on May 6, 2020, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 29, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
