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

Military Road School

1375 Missouri Avenue, NW

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

Military Road School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

1. Military Road School Marker

Inscription. The Military Road School opened in 1864 here along what then was Military Road, an artery linking Civil War forts. The School was one of the first to open after Congress authorized public education for Washington's African Americans in 1862. Students were children of free blacks as well as formerly enslaved men and women who settled near Fort Stevens, a source of employment during the war (1861-1865). Others came from upper Northwest neighborhoods and nearby Montgomery County, Maryland. The Military Road School closed with desegregation in 1954, but its handsome "new" brick building, completed in 1911, continues as a venue for social and educational programs.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.

Location. 38° 57.724′ N, 77° 1.943′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Brightwood. Marker is on Missouri Avenue Northwest east of 14th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1375 Missouri Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. School Days (within shouting distance of this marker); An African American Enclave (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Aunt Betty's Story (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Stevens (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Get Down You Fool” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Build It And They Will Come (approx. ¼ mile away); Early Entrepreneurs (approx. ¼ mile away); A Streetcar Named Brightwood (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

More about this marker.
[Caption:]
May Day 1954 at the Military Road School

Also see . . . Military Road School, African American Heritage Trail. (Submitted on January 17, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

2. Military Road School Marker

May Day 1954 at the Military Road School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

3. May Day 1954 at the Military Road School

Close-up of photo on marker
Collection of Patricia Tyson

Military Road School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

4. Military Road School

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

5. L A M B

Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School in the modern addition behind The Military Road School at 1375 Missouri Avenue N.W.

Architectural Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 18, 2013

6. Architectural Detail

Over the front door at Military Road School

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 889 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on March 21, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 28, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.