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

First Church of Seventh-day Adventists

810 Shepherd Street, NW

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

First Church of Seventh-day Adventists Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 4, 2021

1. First Church of Seventh-day Adventists Marker

Inscription. Adventism arrived in Washington in 1886 in the form of a mission – which three years later became the Seventh-day Adventists Church of Washington, D.C. From the start, racial equality was a central doctrine of the racially mixed congregation. Frederick Douglass's daughter Rosetta Sprague (1839-1906) was an active member. However, as racial separation took hold in this country, the national Adventist leadership followed suit. The Washington church resisted, but then many of the white congregants left to form Second Church in 1902. The remaining members called themselves First Church. In 1956 First Church, by then primarily African American, moved here, to the former Beth Shalom synagogue.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 38° 56.378′ N, 77° 1.426′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Petworth. It is on Shepherd

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Street Northwest just west of 8th Street Northwest, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 810 Shepherd St NW, Washington DC 20011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Maria Gomez, RN, MPH (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Billy Simpson's House of Seafood and Steaks (about 600 feet away); Nazareth Baptist Church (about 700 feet away); Mr. Lincoln’s Ride (approx. ¼ mile away); District Walls, 2016 (approx. ¼ mile away); The Former Engine Co 24 of the District of Columbia Fire Department (approx. ¼ mile away); The Robeson at Spring Flats (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Additional keywords. Jim Crow era, segregation

First Church of Seventh-day Adventists in its current location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 4, 2021

2. First Church of Seventh-day Adventists in its current location

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,017 times since then and 114 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.