Downtown, African American Heritage Trail
Because it is located between the Capitol on the east and the White House on the west, the downtown area became the city’s commercial, governmental, and residential core in the early years of the federal district. African Americans built institutions and businesses, worked in the government buildings, and took up residence here. The early emancipation of Washington’s enslaved women and men in April 1862 was administered here and then celebrated for generations.
Points of Interest
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Testimonials
“The DC Jazz Jam has provided a tremendous boost to DC’s indigenous jazz scene. [The] cadre of fine musicians at Dahlak have managed to create a warm, inviting, encouraging, and creative environment at their weekly jam sessions, which is no small accomplishment. Experienced professionals, like myself, attend the jam to relax, stretch out musically, and network with other players. But at the same time, the DC Jazz Jam has proved to be the perfect setting for younger talent to come out, and have some of their first experiences playing in front of an audience and to learn their craft in the laboratory of a nurturing jam session. In this manner, the DC Jazz Jam is but the latest chapter in Washington’s long history with America’s classical music, jazz.”