Sewall-Belmont House and Museum
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| Sewall-Belmont House National Historic Site | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | 144 Constitution Ave., NE Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Designated as NHL: | May 30, 1974 |
| Added to NRHP: | June 16, 1972 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 72001432 |
The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., United States, is a historic house and museum of the U.S. women's suffrage and equal-rights movements.
It 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 as a site for the new capital. After Washington was laid out, Carroll bought a small parcel of land and 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.
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. In 1929, Dale sold it to the National Woman's Party, and it has been the party's headquarters ever since.
Today, the house is also a museum that houses many banners, documents, pieces of furniture, and other artifacts of the women's suffrage and equal rights movement, as well as sculptures and portraits of women involved in the movements.
The Sewall-Belmont House is located at 144 Constitution Ave., NE. As of 2007, 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. The nearest Metro stop is Union Station.[1]
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