Penn Quarter in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Julia Ward Howe

1819 - 1910

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019

1. Julia Ward Howe Marker

Inscription. Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) was a poet, author, composer, abolitionist, suffragist and more—but she is most remembered for writing the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic. According to the story, she and her husband were asleep at the Willard Hotel one night in November 1861, when she awoke to voices in the street singing "John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave." From the window, she saw lines of Union troops marching by. Inspired, she composed new words to their tune, which they'd adapted from old hymns. The Battle Hymn of the Republic became the Union anthem.

Erected 2019 by Charles Bergen Studios, funded by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Public Art Building Communities Grant and the Downtown Business Improvement District. (Marker Number 5850-2019.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights • War, US Civil • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1861.

Location. 38° 53.834′ N, 77° 1.926′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in the Penn Quarter. Marker is at the intersection of 14th Street Northwest and F Street Northwest, on

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the left when traveling north on 14th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. National Press Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Baer Danzansky (within shouting distance of this marker); George Edmund Haynes 1880 - 1960 and Ruth Standish Baldwin 1863 - 1934 (within shouting distance of this marker); Ethel Percy Andrus 1884 - 1967 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Willard InterContinental Hotel (about 300 feet away); Reserve Officers Association of the United States (about 300 feet away); Jean Monnet (about 300 feet away); The United States Court of Claims (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019

2. Julia Ward Howe Marker

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 19, 2019

3. Julia Ward Howe Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 217 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 19, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.