Gyde
Open prototypeProto
Back to all Washington, D.C. places

Washington, D.C., District of Columbia / History

True Reformer Building

A historic five-story landmark at 1200 U Street NW, designed and financed by the Black community as a symbol of independence and racial pride during the early 20th century.

Open prototype Official site Get directions
True Reformer Building
www.publicwelfare.org, og_image_www.publicwelfare.org

What is the True Reformer Building known for?

The True Reformer Building is recognized as the first building in the United States to be designed, financed, built, and owned by the African American community after Reconstruction.

Who designed the True Reformer Building?

It was designed by John Anderson Lankford, who was the first African-American registered architect in Washington, D.C.

What are some of the building's historic highlights?

The building hosted Duke Ellington's first public performance and early basketball games between African American teams, such as the Washington 12 Streeters, in its second-floor gymnasium.

Where is the True Reformer Building located?

The building is located at 1200 U Street, Northwest, on the southwest corner of 12th and U Streets in Washington, D.C.

What is the True Reformer Building used for today?

It is a civic and cultural landmark that serves as the headquarters for the Public Welfare Foundation on the fifth floor and provides meeting spaces with capacity for over 300 people for local nonprofits.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

The True Reformer Building stands as a civic and cultural landmark at the southwest corner of 12th and U Streets, Northwest, in Washington, D.C. Commissioned in 1902 by the Grand United Order of True Reformers, the structure was dedicated on July 15, 1903. It is distinguished as the first building in the United States to be designed, financed, built, and owned by the African American community after Reconstruction, serving as a symbol of racial pride and self-reliance. The building was designed by John Anderson Lankford, who was the city's first African-American registered architect. This five-story structure was originally commissioned as the headquarters for the United Order of the True Reformers, a black self-help organization, at a cost of $46,000. The architectural achievement represented a turn-of-the-century fraternal mutual aid organization's success. Throughout its history, the building has been a vibrant hub of Black culture and commerce. It once housed the Silver Slipper Club, Dr. Amanda Hilyer Gray’s drugstore, and Chapman’s Tailoring and Designing School. Additionally, the second-floor gymnasium hosted early basketball games between African American teams such as the Washington 12 Streeters, led by Edwin B. Henderson. Since 1999, the property has been owned by the Public Welfare Foundation, which uses the fifth floor as its headquarters. The foundation completed a $5 million top-to-bottom overhaul of the property to ensure its preservation as a National Historic Landmark. Today, the building continues to serve the community by offering free event space for local nonprofits to gather and advance racial equity.

Visitor tips

  • Look for the building on the southwest corner of 12th and U Streets NW.
  • Check the Public Welfare Foundation website for information on event space usage.
  • Allow time to explore the surrounding U Street corridor for more Black history landmarks.

Nearby context

Located in the heart of the U Street corridor, the True Reformer Building is part of a neighborhood known as 'Black Broadway,' where it once stood as a beacon of community independence and mutual aid.

Sources

Evidence and links