American University Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
American University
Top of the Town
— Tenleytown Heritage Trail —
Beyond Ward Circle to your left is the campus of American University, chartered by Congress in 1893. Methodist Bishop John Fletcher Hurst guided the university’s development as a center for training future public servants. With its schools in business, law, public affairs, communications, and more, the modern university continues Hurst’s wide-ranging vision.
American University’s ties to the nation’s capital are not just geographic. During both world wars, the U.S. military used the campus as training grounds, with soldiers and sailors adding new energy to daily life in Tenleytown. And President John F. Kennedy chose his American University commencement speech in 1963 as the moment to call on the Soviet Union to craft a historic nuclear test ban treaty.
American University occupies grounds once owned by Tenleytown’s largest landowners, the descendants of the Addison-Murdock families. In the early 1800s, John Murdock’s hospitality attracted distinguished guests—including George Washington—to his country estate, “Friendship.” During the Civil War (1861–1865), Murdock’s tract, incorporating today’s Ward Circle and Katzen Arts Center, became Fort Gaines, headquarters of the dashing French Algerian “Zouaves.” When Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary dined with Colonel de Troibriand on the camp’s French cuisine, Lincoln declared it “the best meal he had had in Washington,” and announced, “if their men could fight as well as they could cook, the regiment would do very well indeed.”
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 17.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy, and the Tenleytown Heritage Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.
Location. 38° 56.287′ N, 77° 5.124′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in American University Park. Marker is on Ward Circle Northwest east of Nebraska Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling north. Approach it by car northbound on Massachusetts Avenue. It is next to the turn lane for northbound Nebraska Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3727 Nebraska Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. General Artemas Ward Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); September 11 Memorial (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S. Navy Bomb Disposal School (about 800 feet away); John Fletcher Hurst (about 800 feet away); Battelle Memorial Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Korean Cherry Trees (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jeju Dolhareubang (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
More about this marker. There are a number of photographs on the marker. Clockwise starting top left, captions read:
♦ “Bishop John Fletcher Hurst breaks ground at AU’s College of History (Hurst Hall), 1896.”
♦ “Civil War soldiers of the 55th New York Volunteers were [uniformed in the style of] French Algerian ‘Zouaves,’ known for their long swords and fine cuisine—even at Fort Gaines, which once occupied the Katzen Arts Center site.”
♦ “President John F. Kennedy proposes the nuclear test ban treaty during AU’s commencement, 1963.”
♦ “An unidentified man poses next to the ruins of the old Murdock house, ‘Friendship,’ which was torn down for American University’s chancellor’s house.”
♦ “World War I Army engineers stationed at AU, above,” ♦ “trained on the Potomac, right, 1917.” ♦ “Christel Bangerter and friends at Reno City, far right.”
♦ The caption on the large photograph on the reverse (common) face of the marker reads, “Editorial staff of the American University student newspaper, The American Eagle, 1940s.”
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,693 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 15, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on October 16, 2011, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 6. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 7, 8. submitted on October 16, 2011, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 9. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.