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

Morrison-Clark Inn

— [former Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen’s Club] —

Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 8, 2010

1. Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant Marker

Inscription. 1864 David L. Morrison was a developer who sold flour and feed to the U.S. government during the Civil War. Reuben B. Clark made land investments, owned a grocery store, and served as Washington, D.C.’s jail commissioner.
1917 M. Frank Ruppert bought the Morrison property in 1917. The Rupperts owned a hardware store and real estate office on 7th Street, NW. Influenced by a trip they took to the orient in 1905, the Rupperts made changes that give the property much of its current charm.
1923 The Women’s Army and Navy League bought the Morrison home in 1923 and converted it into our country’s first affordable place for America’s enlisted men. In 1930 the facility grew to include the Clark home and to additionally accommodate airmen. The property was renamed as the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmens Club after 1954.

First ladies presided over the club, and assisted in maintaining the club’s operations. In 1943, at the peak of World War II, the efforts of these women provided beds for more that 45,000 military personnel. Grace Coolidge, Mamie Eisenhower and Jacqueline Kennedy were active in the organization.

Erected by Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic

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lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Military • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.

Location. 38° 54.256′ N, 77° 1.613′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of 11th Street Northwest (U.S. 29) and L Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 11th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1015 L Street Northwest, Washington DC 20001, 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 the North Atlantic Region,

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: Edmund Burke (within shouting distance of this marker); The Messer Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Asbury United Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Asbury United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blanche K. Bruce House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Leonard "Bud" Doggett House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Power Brokers (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Other markers no longer

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 8, 2010

2. Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant Marker

nearby. Asbury United Methodist Church (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Jamila El Sahili (was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Morrison-Clark Inn. The venerable Washington Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen’s Club was lost in the wave of renewal and gentrification that impacted the neighborhood in the 1980s, transforming this building into today's upscale historic inn and restaurant.
The club's historic counterpart in New York City (the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club (283 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY) carries on.

Also see . . . Morrison-Clark Hotel: History. (Submitted on July 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. Historic Hotels of America - National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 8, 2010

3. Morrison-Clark Historic Inn and Restaurant

Historic Hotels of America - National Trust for Historic Preservation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, July 8, 2010

4. Historic Hotels of America - National Trust for Historic Preservation

plaque by the steps leading to the entrance of 11th Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,693 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.