Sewall-Belmont House National Historic Site: This National Historic Site and National Monument served as the headquarters for the National Woman's Party for nearly 90 years.
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The Sewall–Belmont House National Historic Site served as the headquarters for the National Woman's Party (NWP) for nearly 90 years, starting in 1929. Originally founded by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns to rally women to support the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, the NWP remained a major force in organizing women for political action, including for the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This house served as the NWP's headquarters during a critical period for the organization, following its purchase by NWP benefactress and cofounder Alva Vanderbilt Belmont. The organization named their headquarters the Alva Belmont House in her honor. It was also declared the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in 2016.
The house was originally built in 1800, incorporating a two-story house from 1750. It burned in 1814 and was rebuilt in 1820. "Sewall" refers to Robert Sewall, the man for whom the house was originally built between 1799 and 1800.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: June 16, 1972
Natonal Register (Additional Documentation): September 5, 2025
National Historic Site: May 30, 1974
National Historic Landmark: May 30, 1974
National Monument: April 12, 2016
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The Sewall-Belmont House, the corner of Constitution Ave. and 2nd St., NE, Washington, D.C. 2010
Highsmith, Carol M, photographer. The Sewall-Belmont House, the corner of Constitution Ave. and 2nd St., NE, Washington, D.C. 2010. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2010641663/. (Accessed September 08, 2016.)
Women's Party house, between 1921 and 1935
Source: Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ npc2008011548/. (Accessed September 08, 2016.)
Alva Belmont House, view from the courtyard, August 1961
Photo courtesy of Abbie Rowe, National Park Service.
Alva Belmont House, South Front View, August 1961
Photo courtesy of Abbie Rowe, National Park Service.