The Whitelaw Hotel and “the Duke” 13th and t streets nw
the elegant whitelaw hotel at the corner of 13 th and T Streets opened its doors in 1919 , offering African American travelers their first opportunity to stay in a first-class hotel in the segregated nation’s capital. Inside they found a lobby with fine rugs and potted palms, a richly decorated dining room, comfortable rooms, and convenience shops on the first floor. The Whitelaw was the creation of African American business entrepreneur John Whitelaw Lewis, who also built the Industrial Bank building on U Street. A former construction worker turned developer and financier, he hired a black builder and Isaiah T. Hatton, a black architect, to make the hotel a reality. Its restaurant/ballroom was a favorite choice for elite dinner parties and dances. The clientele included many of the famous of the day — Cab Calloway, Joe Louis, and the neighborhood’s own native son, Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington. Duke Ellington lived nearby from age 11 to 18 — at 1805 13 th Street from 1910 to 1914 , and across the street at 1816 13 th Street from 1915 to 1917 . While living here he chose music over baseball, soaking up the varied and rich musical traditions of the neighborhood. He was inspired by Dunbar High School music teacher Henry Grant, by traveling pianists, by church choirs, and by teachers at the Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression at Ninth and T Streets. Ellington left for better opportunities in New York in 1923 , but frequently returned to play the Howard Theatre and nightclubs in his old neighbor- hood, where his magnificent style made him the hometown favorite. The Whitelaw Hotel, where he sometimes stayed, has been converted into affordable apartments by Manna, Inc. Its ballroom has been restored to its former grandeur, and continues to be a community gathering place.
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