Georgetown in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Temple of Learning and Talent
The imposing classic revival building on the hill is the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, formerly Western High School. It was completed in 1898 as a "temple of learning" and was among the first public senior high schools in Washington.
Western was a distinguished public college preparatory school that enrolled more than 2,000 students in 1935. As with all DC public schools, Western was integrated in 1954. Among its notable attendees are Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling), Thomas Hart Benton (artist), Mildred Fish-Harnack (executed as a spy by Hitler in 1943), Margaret Gorman Cahill (first Miss America), David Schott and Edward White (astronauts), Gloria Steinem (feminist leader), Austin Kiplinger (publisher), Glen Woodmansee (Jimmy Dorsey's trombonist), and David A. Clarke (DC City Council Chair).
In 1974, Western became the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Named in honor of native Washingtonian Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, it offers pre-professional training in dance, theater, music, literary media, museum studies and visual arts, as well as a full college preparatory curriculum to the city's most artistically talented students. Ellington's successful graduates include comedian Dave Chappelle, R&B singer Tony Terry, opera mezzo soprano Denyce Graves, indie rock musician Mary
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Duke Ellington High School for the Arts was designated a DC Landmark in 2002.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Entertainment • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the DC, Art on Call series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 38° 54.821′ N, 77° 4.151′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Georgetown. Marker is at the intersection of R Street Northwest and 35th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on R Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3435 R Street Northwest, Washington DC 20007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Daniel Boone Trail Marker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Brinetown and Western High School (about 300 feet away); Hilleary's Smiling Corner (about 500 feet away); The Origins of Burleith (about 600 feet away); Freed Slave and Future President (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Rolling Tobacco Road (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mahmoud Yarrow or Yarrow Mamout (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Lest We Forget" (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Also see . . . Music video to “Hot and Cold” by Ex Hex. Mary Timony is in the band.
(Submitted on March 24, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Additional commentary.
1. Mary Timony
Mary Timony has played in several bands including Autoclave, Helium, Wild Flag and Ex Hex.
— Submitted March 24, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
