Frederick Douglass, a renowned abolitionist, author, and political leader, spent the last 17 years of his life at Cedar Hill, his estate in the hills of Anacostia. This preserved estate stands out as one of Washington, D.C.’s most significant monuments to its remarkable Black citizens. While D.C. is a city with a rich Black history, it lacks many monuments celebrating its greatest Black figures. Cedar Hill, just across the Anacostia River from the Capitol and the White House, became a pilgrimage site for journalists, admirers, and influential visitors who came to see Douglass from 1877 until his death in 1895.
Cedar Hill is a beautiful estate perched on one of the highest and steepest hills in Anacostia, offering stunning views of downtown D.C. However, the only way to see the inside is by joining a free guided tour led by a National Park Service ranger, and it’s definitely worth booking in advance. Douglass bought the house for $6,700, which is about $1.3 million in today’s money. Inside, you’ll find an impressive and lively space, with walls adorned with portraits of notable abolitionists like John Brown and Wendell Phillips, as well as pictures of Douglass, his wives, and his children.
Inside the house, you’ll find the huge easy chair where Frederick Douglass, known as the Lion of Anacostia, welcomed his visitors, as well as the desk where he penned his famous speeches. Douglass had a knack for collecting household gadgets, including at least four different types of irons, and his very own set of dumbbells. After his first wife Anna passed away, her bedroom was sealed but is now open to visitors. When Douglass married his secretary Helen Pitts a few years later, she took the bedroom next door, which still contains her typewriter and sewing machine. The enthusiastic ranger might even show you the exact spot in the foyer where Douglass passed away in 1895.
