The
Sewall-Belmont House was built on a tract of land originally granted to
the second Lord Baltimore by King Charles of England. The property was
divided several times, and it was Daniel Carroll who ultimately ceded much
of the land to the United States for the new capitol.
After
Washington was laid out, Caroll bought a small parcel of land and later in
1799 sold the property to Robert Sewall. According to his tax records,
Sewall built the main house in 1800. He attached it to a small one-room
farmhouse believed by some experts to date from 1750.
Tradition has it that British troops set fire to the house during the War
of 1812. It is believed that gunshots from or behind the Sewall residence
provoked the attack. Since that incident the house has undergone several
architectural changes and restorations.
The
house remained in the possession of Sewall descendants until 1922, when it
was purchased by Senator Porter H. Dale of Vermont. Seven years later, in
1929, Dale sold it to the National Woman's Party (NWP). It has been the
headquarters for the NWP ever since.
Today,
the house balances its roles as a museum and a head-quarters. Many
sculptures and portraits of women involved in the suffrage and equal
rights movements can be seen at the house. The museum also contains Susan
B. Anthony's desk and a banner used during the first U.S. protests
demanding women's enfranchisement.
The
Sewall-Belmont House is located at 144 Constitution Ave., NE. It is open
Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday from noon to
4:00 pm. Daily tours are given at 11:00 am, noon, and 1:00 pm. Metro stop:
Eastern Market
