Howard University

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  • Address
    2400 6th St NW, Northeast DC
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  • Transport
    underground rail: Shaw-Howard U

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Lonely Planet review

Anchoring the neighborhood is Howard University, founded in 1867. 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), Ralph Bunche, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and former New York City mayor David Dinkins. Today it has over 12,000 students in 18 schools. There are campus tours (202-806-2900). The Welcome Center is at 1739 7th St NW.

Founders' Library, a handsome Georgian building with a gold spire and giant clock, is the campus' architectural centerpiece. It houses the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (202-806-4237), which boasts the nation's largest collection of African American literature. Also worth visiting is the Howard University Gallery of Art (202-806-7070; Childers Hall), which has an impressive collection of work by African and African American artists, as well as other notable pieces. Both are open Mon-Fri to and are free of charge.