“Liberty exists in the very idea of man’s creation. It was his even before he comprehended it. He was created in it, endowed with it, and it can never be taken away.”

Frederick Douglass

In 1877, abolitionist, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass purchased this house in the Uniontown section of Anacostia. He called his house “Cedar Hill.”
The house had originally belonged to John Van Hook, one of the developers of the area. Douglass lived in this house until his death in 1895. Many of Douglass’s personal belongings are on display in the home. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is located at 1411 W Street, SE.

Frederick Douglass by Daniel Freeman Collection of Jerome Gray

Born enslaved in 1817, Douglass taught himself to read and later became a U.S. Marshal, a lay minister, recorder of deeds in Washington, D.C., and founder of the North Star newspaper. Cedar Hill, which sits high on a hill that overlooks Washington, is under the management of the National Park Service. Visitors to this site learn about the exciting life and many careers of this important American.

View Activity Page in HTML View Activity Page in PDF