Southwest Federal Center in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
St. Dominic Church: Community Anchor
River Farms to Urban Towers
— Southwest Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 28, 2017
Behind you stands St. Dominic Church, established 1852. It anchors the city's only Dominican parish and is its sixth oldest Catholic church. St. Dominic's survived two upheavals — a fire in 1885 and the threat of urban renewal in the 1950s (thanks to friends in Congress — to prevail as a spiritual and community center. Throughout the 1800s it ministered to farmers, slaves, free blacks, and Irish, German, and Italian immigrants as well as native-born government workers and members of Congress. Since urban renewal, it has served its newest neighbors. This Gothic style structure was dedicated in 1875.
The famous and the humble have sought spiritual comfort at St. Dominic's, from newly freed slaves during the Civil War to former Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Actress Helen Hayes, born and raised in Southwest, sang in the church choir. And Washington Senators star pitcher Walter Johnson headlined the church's annual parade in 1937.
Neighbors of all faiths have appreciated St. Dominic's. "The whole neighborhood would go to the carnival with its bright lights," recalled Larry Rosen who grew up on 4½ Street. The priests and nuns of St. Dominic's school taught hundreds of area children from 1852 until 1957, when the rectory, convent, and school were all demolished for the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. The 600 block of Seventh Street was designated for a new school, but because the new Southwest had fewer children, the parish asked to use the site for low-income housing. After years of litigation, developers instead completed Capital Square townhouses, sold at market rates in 2001.
Erected 2004 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Southwest Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 38° 52.999′ N, 77° 1.295′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Southwest Federal Center. Marker is at the intersection of E Street Southwest and 7th Street Southwest on E Street Southwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 7th Street Southwest, Washington DC 20024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Memorial Tree Planting (about 600 feet away); The Oklahoma City Bombing (about 600 feet away); Equality in Public Education (about 800 feet away); 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dr. Dorothy Height
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 17, 2017
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 17, 2017
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 28, 2017
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 28, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on December 28, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.