Frances Perkins House facts for kids
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Frances Perkins House
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | 2326 California St., NW., Washington, D.C. |
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| Architect | Alexander H. Sonneman |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91002048 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1991 |
| Designated NHL | July 17, 1991 |
The Frances Perkins House is a special historic home located at 2326 California Street NW in Washington, D.C.. This house was built in 1914. From 1937 to 1940, it was the home of Frances Perkins. She was an amazing woman who lived from 1880 to 1965. Frances Perkins made history as the first woman to be part of the United States Cabinet.
Perkins served as the Secretary of Labor. This important job was under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She played a huge role in creating the "New Deal." This was a series of programs that helped the country during a tough time. Because of her important work, this house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1991.
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Who Was Frances Perkins?
Frances Perkins was a true pioneer. She was born in 1880 and dedicated her life to helping others. Before working for the president, she fought for better working conditions. She wanted fair pay and safer places for people to do their jobs.
Her hard work led her to become the Secretary of Labor. This meant she was in charge of all things related to workers' rights and jobs in the United States. She held this position from 1932 until 1945. She was the only person in Roosevelt's Cabinet to serve for all his terms as president.
Her Amazing Achievements
Frances Perkins was a key player in President Roosevelt's New Deal. This plan aimed to help Americans recover from the Great Depression. She helped create many important programs.
The New Deal and Social Security
Some of the programs she helped with were temporary. These included the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. These programs gave jobs to many people. But Frances Perkins also helped create something that still exists today: Social Security. This program provides financial support for retired people and others. It was a huge step forward for the country.
About the Frances Perkins House
The Frances Perkins House is in a neighborhood called Sheridan-Kalorama. This area is in Washington, D.C. The house is part of a pair of brick townhouses. They were built to look like mirror images of each other.
A Look Inside the House
The house has three sections across its front. The main entrance is on the outer side. It has special arched windows above the door. There are also small porches with fancy columns. The windows on the second floor are rounded. The third floor has a sloped roof with dormer windows. These windows have small gables or arches. Inside, the house still has beautiful wooden details. These are especially nice in the main living room.
Why This House is Special
The house was built in 1914. Frances Perkins lived here from 1937 to 1940. This was during her time as Secretary of Labor. Of all the places she lived while in this important job, this house was her home for the longest period. It's a reminder of her incredible contributions to American history.
