Ever wonder who lived in this historic house? This is the Blanche K. Bruce House. It stands at 909 M Street NW. The Blanche K. Bruce House was home to a remarkable man.
Blanche K. Bruce was born into slavery in 1841. He overcame immense adversity. Bruce became the first African American to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate.
This house was built in 1865. Its architecture is typical of the Second Empire style. The Blanche K. Bruce House is a duplex. It has brick walls and a slate mansard roof. The design is virtually identical on both sides. Look at the rounded-arch openings of the windows. Notice the dentillated edge between the roof sections.
Bruce represented Mississippi in the Senate from 1875 to 1881. He advocated for Army integration. He also supported policies for poor African Americans. Bruce even served as Presiding Officer of the Senate in 1879. He was the only former slave to hold that position.
After his Senate term, Bruce remained in Washington. He served as Recorder of Deeds. He was also a trustee of Howard University. Presidents James Garfield and William McKinley later appointed Bruce as Register of the Treasury.
Bruce married Josephine Beall Willson in 1878. She was a socialite from Cleveland, Ohio. Their son Roscoe Conkling Bruce was born in 1879.
The Blanche K. Bruce House became a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It stands as a testament to his achievements. Bruce’s story is one of resilience and determination.
In 2001, the Senate unveiled a portrait of Bruce in the Capitol. Simmie Knox painted it. A highway marker stands near his birthplace in Virginia. Lawrence Otis Graham wrote a book about Bruce’s life. It is titled The Senator and the Socialite.
The Blanche K. Bruce House reminds us of his legacy. It is a symbol of hope and progress. Bruce’s contributions continue to inspire. His story echoes through these very walls.