Howard University

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Founded in 1867, Howard remains the nation’s most prestigious traditionally African American institute of higher education. Distinguished alumni include the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (who enrolled after he was turned away from the University of Maryland’s then all-white law school), Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and former New York City mayor David Dinkins. Today Howard enrolls around 11,000 students in 13 schools. The Shaw neighborhood is as defined by Howard University as Georgetown is by its titular school.

Staff and students give free campus tours (www2.howard.edu/contact/visit). You must reserve in advance.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby attractions

1. Howard University Founders' Library

0.06 MILES

The 1938 Founders’ Library is a handsome Georgian building with a gold spire and giant clock that serves as Howard University’s architectural centerpiece.

2. Howard University Gallery of Art

0.14 MILES

The university's art gallery holds an impressive collection of works largely dominated by African and African American artists, including Archibald Motley…

3. Foundry Gallery

0.3 MILES

A nonprofit member-run organization, this small gallery features a diverse range of super-contemporary art – mediums include painting, sculpture and…

4. African American Civil War Memorial

0.48 MILES

Standing at the center of a granite plaza, this bronze memorial, Spirit of Freedom, depicting rifle-bearing troops is DC’s first major art piece by black…

5. African American Civil War Museum

0.48 MILES

Set in an old schoolhouse behind the African American Civil War Memorial, the museum makes the point that for some, the Civil War was about secession…

6. Marvin Gaye Mural

0.59 MILES

This brightly-colored mural by artist Aniekan Udofia depicts the soul singer – who was born and raised in DC and went to high school in Columbia Heights –…

8. BloomBars

0.65 MILES

You never know what you'll find going on at BloomBars, a cool community arts center. By day, children's story times and music classes take place; at night…