Military Road School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Military Road School
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Military Road School in 2013
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 Location in District of Columbia
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| Location | 1375 Missouri Ave., NW Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1911–1912 |
| Architect | Snowden Ashford |
| MPS | Public School Buildings of Washington, DC MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000674 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 2003 |
The Military Road School is a very old and important school building. It is located in the Brightwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Since 2003, the building has been home to the Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School.
Contents
History of the School
The Military Road School first opened its doors in 1864. It was created to educate African Americans who were no longer enslaved. The school was built on land where Fort Stevens barracks used to be.
A School for Freed People
The school was located on Military Road. This road connected many forts used during the Civil War in Washington. Many freed people settled near these forts. They found safety and jobs there.
The Military Road School was one of the first schools in Washington. It opened after the United States Congress allowed African Americans to get an education. Students came from the local neighborhood. They also traveled from other parts of Northwest Washington. Some even came from Montgomery County, Maryland.
End of Segregation
The school continued to operate until 1954. That year, the Brown v. Board of Education decision was made. This important court ruling ended segregation in public schools across the United States.
About the Building's Design
The front part of the school building was designed between 1911 and 1912. It was one of the first buildings planned by the Municipal Architect's office. This office was created in 1909. The design was also reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts, which started in 1910.
Architectural Features
The building has two and a half stories. It was designed by Snowden Ashford. A large, modern addition was built behind the original building in 2009.
The school is made of red brick. It has special details like stucco panels and limestone trim. The building is one room wide. It has a main entrance porch in the center.
Windows and Roof
Large groups of windows are on the front and sides of the building. These windows have many small panes. They let in lots of natural light. There are also brick panels set back into the walls at the rear of the building.
The roof is gently sloped and shaped like a pyramid. This is called a hipped roof. It has wide, decorative eaves. A unique octagonal-shaped tower, called a cupola, sits on top of the roof.
