Sewall-Belmont House & Museum

Sewall-Belmont House & Museum. The National Woman's Party (NWP) was founded by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns in 1916, and the Sewall-Belmont House & Museum served as its headquarters. The museum is located near the United States Capitol and the Supreme Court of the United States, and it showcases the history of the women's suffrage movement in the United States, with notable figures such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth. The museum also highlights the contributions of other prominent women, including Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who played important roles in the American Civil Rights Movement and the women's rights movement.

● History

The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum was built in 1799 and was originally owned by Robert Sewall, a wealthy merchant from Baltimore. The house was later purchased by Michael Belmont, a politician from New York, and it remained in the Belmont family for several generations. In 1929, the house was purchased by the National Woman's Party (NWP), which was founded by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns in 1916, with the help of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The NWP used the house as its headquarters and held many important meetings and events there, including the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession and the 1917 Silent Sentinels protests, which were supported by Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and other notable figures, such as Jane Addams and Emily Dickinson. The house also served as a residence for Alice Paul and other leaders of the NWP, including Inez Milholland, Alva Belmont, and Crystal Eastman.

● Architecture

The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum is a historic house that showcases Federal architecture and Georgian architecture styles, similar to those found in Mount Vernon and The White House. The house has undergone several renovations and restorations over the years, including a major restoration project in the 1970s, led by The National Trust for Historic Preservation and supported by The Smithsonian Institution and The National Park Service. The house features a mix of Greek Revival architecture and Italianate architecture elements, with a mansard roof and a portico supported by Tuscan columns, similar to those found in The United States Capitol and The Supreme Court of the United States. The interior of the house features many original details, including woodwork and fireplaces, and it is decorated with furniture and artifacts from the 18th century and 19th century, including pieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Gallery of Art.

● Museum

The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum is a historic house museum that offers tours and exhibits on the history of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. The museum features a collection of artifacts and documents related to the movement, including suffrage banners, posters, and photographs, as well as personal belongings of notable suffragists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The museum also offers exhibits on the history of the National Woman's Party (NWP) and its leaders, including Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, and it highlights the contributions of other prominent women, including Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who played important roles in the American Civil Rights Movement and the women's rights movement. The museum is operated by the National Woman's Party (NWP) and is supported by The National Endowment for the Humanities and The National Endowment for the Arts.

● Collections

The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum has a significant collection of artifacts and documents related to the women's suffrage movement in the United States. The collection includes suffrage banners, posters, and photographs, as well as personal belongings of notable suffragists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The collection also includes documents and records from the National Woman's Party (NWP), including minutes from meetings and correspondence between leaders, such as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. The museum's collection is an important resource for researchers and scholars studying the history of the women's suffrage movement and the women's rights movement, and it is supported by The Library of Congress and The National Archives and Records Administration.

● Historic Designation

The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974, in recognition of its significance as the headquarters of the National Woman's Party (NWP) and its role in the women's suffrage movement. The house is also a contributing property to the Capitol Hill Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is operated by the National Woman's Party (NWP) and is supported by The National Park Service and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as The Smithsonian Institution and The National Gallery of Art. The museum's historic designation is a testament to its importance as a cultural and historical resource, and it is recognized by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Category:Historic house museums in Washington, D.C.