Frederick Douglass House and The Big Chair

On Sunday, July 14 Steph and I did another bucket list item and one that had been on our list the entire time, we finally made it to southeast DC and went to the Frederick Douglass House! We were going to do the Anacostia Museum, Frederick Douglass House and the Big Chair, but then we found out that the Anacostia Museum, which is a Smithsonian is closed for renovation until mid October. 

The Frederick Douglass House is located in the Anacostia section of DC which is in the southeast quadrant. The Frederick Douglass House is located on Cedar Hill and has fantastic views of DC with views of the US Capitol and the Washington Monument.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery. His mother was forced to give him up as an infant and he didn't know who his father is. He was born in 1818 but they don't have an exact date of birth. At the age of eight he was sent to a Baltimore house to be a servant. It was here that he became fascinated by they "mystery of reading" and decide that education was "the pathway from slavery to freedom." Because it was illegal to educate slaves, so he taught himself and traded bread for reading lessons and tracing over words in discarded spelling books until his handwriting was perfect. At the age of 13 he was reading about abolition of slavery to other slaves. He escaped slavery at the age of 20 and used his hard earned wisdom to lecture against slavery and to fight for the emancipation of blacks, women, and oppressed people. 

Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna Murray moved into the house on September 1, 1877 when Frederick was about 60 years old.  The house on Cedar Hill was built in 1850 and is a brick home. His wife Anna died in 1822 and 18 months later he married Helen Pitts who was a white women, so their marriage was very controversial. Helen preserved the house and is the reason it is now entrusted to the National Parks Service. 

The east parlor, which has the leather rocking chair from the people in Haiti.

The library - his books were this most beloved treasure.

The west parlor where the the family would play music (their is a violin on top of the piano) and it is even said that Fredrick Douglass would play horse with his grandchildren on this floor.

The formal dinning room where only the adults would eat. Frederick Douglass was a big man at 6'4 and 220 pounds - so he had a bigger chair and his chair had wheels on it.

Some of the china:

The washing machines, water (not for drinking), irons and cooking stove.

The kitchen where the food was prepared and where the children eat.

The Frederick Douglass's trunk is raised on the top, so it couldn't have other trunks stacked on top of it and it was the first one unloaded.

Many bedrooms. Frederick didn't sleep in the same room as his wife and during that time period that was a sign of wealth because you had enough rooms for everyone.

Great views of DC from the second floor windows.

Frederick Douglass's room - there are weights in his room to show that he was a strong believer in exercise.

Frederick Douglass's Growlery - it was his retreat, where he could go to read, study, meditate.

 

The grounds are beautiful!

Front of the house: 

 

After the house tour we watched a short film on the life of Frederick Douglass and in the room was this quilt that was made by school children.

This is the cane that Mary Todd Lincoln gave to Mr. Douglass after the assassination of Lincoln.

I am so glad that we finally did this - it was amazing! 

"To those who have suffered in slavery I can say, I, too, have suffered...to those who have battled for liberty, brotherhood, and citizenship I can say, I, too, have battled." ~ Frederick Douglas. 

Next up we went half a mile away to The Big Chair. The Big Chair is just this random chair in a parking lot. It was at one time the largest chair in the world. It is 19.5 feet tall.

Fun Sunday afternoon doing another bucket list item.