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

Freedmen's Hospital

520 W Street, NW

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

Freedmen's Hospital Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 21, 2015

1. Freedmen's Hospital Marker

Inscription. Freedmen's Hospital was established by the federal government in 1862 to address the needs of thousands of African Americans who poured into the city seeking freedom during the Civil War. The hospital's first administrator was Major Alexander T. Augusta, M.D. (1825-1890), a surgeon and one of eight black physicians serving in the U.S. Army. Blood plasma pioneer Dr. Charles R. Drew later managed the facility. Freedmen's moved to this Howard University site in 1869 and became the university's teaching hospital. In 1975 Freedmen's Hospital was renamed Howard University Hospital and was rebuilt at Georgia and Florida avenues, NW, on the site of the old Griffith Stadium.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 38° 55.143′ N, 77° 1.21′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of

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Columbia. It is in LeDroit Park. It can be reached from the intersection of W Street Northwest and 6th Street Northwest, on the left when traveling west. On the Seeley G. Mudd Building, Howard University College of Medicine. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 W St 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: Medical Care for All (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ed Murphy Way (about 600 feet away); Griffith Stadium Site (about 700 feet away); Will Marion Cook Family Residence Site (about 800 feet away); Best in the Country (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cleaning Up Cowtown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kelly Miller Residence Site (approx. 0.2 miles

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 21, 2015

2. Freedmen's Hospital Marker

away); Sons & Daughters in Christ African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Griffith Stadium (was about 800 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 21, 2015

3. Freedmen's Hospital Marker

Class of 1930 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 21, 2015

4. Class of 1930

Howard University nursing class of 1930 in front of Freedmen's Hospital.Close-up of photo on marker
Scurlock Studio Collection

Alexander Thomas Augusta M.D. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wikipedia

5. Alexander Thomas Augusta M.D.

Howard University College of Medicine<br>Seeley G. Mudd Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, June 21, 2015

6. Howard University College of Medicine
Seeley G. Mudd Building

Charles R. Drew image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2015

7. Charles R. Drew

This 1953 portrait of Charles R. Drew by Betsy Graves Reyneau hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,604 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 29, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on November 30, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.