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

Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence

1805 13th Street, NW

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 29, 2014

1. Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence Marker

Inscription. Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899—1974), the internationally renowned composer and musician born in Washington, DC, spend part of his youth here at 1805 13th Street, NW (1910—1914). During those formative years he studied classical piano as well as techniques of local ragtime pianists. Ellington played one of his first public concerts at the True Reformer Building, 1200 U Street, NW. By his early 20s, he had his own four-piece combo, Duke's Serenaders. He was a fixture on the U Street musical scene before moving to New York in 1923 and forming Duke Ellington and the Washingtonians. A hit in Harlem, Ellington launched a recording and composing career that brought him worldwide fame.

Erected by DC Cultural Heritage.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 38° 54.861′ N, 77° 1.771′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in U Street Corridor. It is on 13th Street Northwest north of S Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 1805 13th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, 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: Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth Rucker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Whitelaw Hotel and “the Duke” (about 400 feet away); A Home Away From Home (about 500 feet away); Louise Burrell Miller Residence (about 500 feet away); Logan Circle Cistern and BayScape (about 600 feet away); Washington Afro-American Newspaper Office Building (about 600 feet away); Alain Locke Residence (about 700 feet away); James Lesesne Wells Residence (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Photographed by Jason Fountain, December 6, 2025

2. Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence Marker

The marker has aged slightly but remains generally legible.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 29, 2014

3. Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence Marker

Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 29, 2014

4. Edward “Duke” Ellington Residence

Duke Ellington image. Click for more information.

Charlotte Brooks (courtesy Library of Congress), February 18, 1957

5. Duke Ellington

Image from LOOK Magazine
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,071 times since then and 212 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 30, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on December 6, 2025, by Jason Fountain of Arlington, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on December 30, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on December 6, 2025. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.