Our Spaces
Josephine Butler Parks Center: History
The Josephine Butler Parks Center is a stunning historic mansion overlooking Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park—perfect
for weddings, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and community events. Your rental directly supports our programs.
Once serving as the Embassy of Hungary and Brazil, the Meridian Hill House is an 18,000-square-foot Renaissance
Revival-style landmark boasting 40 rooms. Designed by renowned architect George Oakley Totten Jr., the house stands
as one of his many architectural contributions to Washington, D.C., including several grand mansions surrounding
Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park.
The property was developed by Mary Foote Henderson, widow of the Missouri senator who introduced the 13th Amendment
granting African Americans the right to vote. She resided in a Romanesque-style castle, built in 1888 with Senator
Henderson, located at the corner of 16th Street and Florida Avenue (remnants of its rampart walls remain today).
Inspired by the City Beautiful Movement, Mrs. Henderson envisioned Meridian Hill as Washington’s cultural epicenter.
Her most notable achievement was lobbying Congress to establish Meridian Hill Park, celebrated as America’s first
national park for the performing arts.
Historical Significance
The area surrounding the Parks Center is rich with history:
- Meridian Hill’s Name: Originates from Thomas Jefferson’s vision to designate the hilltop as the Earth’s Prime Meridian, atop the ancient natural north-south meridian of the the Potomac River.
- Significant Landmarks: A Native American sacred ground for the Nacotchtank nation and a historic African American community, the hilltop is also the birthplace of both George Washington University and an African American theological seminary. It was also a Civil War Union Army hospital.
- Colonel Robert Gould Shaw camped on the hilltop before leading the 54th Massachusetts Regiment (featured in Glory).
- Presidents including John Quincy Adams and John F. Kennedy called it home.
- Writers from Joaquin Miller, “Poet of the Sierras,” to Carlos Fuentes and Ethelbert Miller found inspiration here.
The Center’s Restoration and Features
The Josephine Butler Parks Center has undergone an award-winning restoration, returning it to its former splendor. The interior has been thoughtfully adapted for modern uses while preserving its historic charm.
Key features include:
- Multi-purpose performance and special event spaces
- Art exhibition and gallery spaces
- Assistance for after-school and summer programs
- A neighborhood park revitalization hub
- Support for job training and educational services
- Non-profit incubator
Restoration efforts include:
- Historic moldings, terrazzo, marble, glazed terracotta, and parquet
- Upgraded heating and cooling systems
- Enhanced lighting and landscaping
The Josephine Butler Parks Center is the perfect venue for weddings, receptions, and a diverse programs of all kinds. Members of Washington Parks & People receive priority booking!
Josephine Butler Parks Center: Weddings
Award-Winning Elegance
The Josephine Butler Parks Center is a stunning historic mansion overlooking Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park—perfect for weddings, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and community events. Your rental directly supports our programs.
- A meticulously restored historic landmark offering timeless charm.
- Home to one of D.C.’s largest ballrooms in a historic mansion setting.
- Sun-drenched spaces with breathtaking views and sunsets over Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park.
- Stunning gardens, terraces, and kitchens available at no extra cost.
- Freedom to choose your own vendors to personalize every detail of your event.
Seamless Event Support
- Complimentary setup and breakdown of tables and chairs.
-
Access to premium amenities, including:
- State-of-the-art sound system with wireless microphones.
- A Baby Grand Piano for an elegant musical touch.
- A Smart TV to enhance your event experience.
Sustainability at Its Core
- Energy-efficient features like programmable thermostats, photocells, and weatherized lighting.
- Single-stream recycling to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
- Over 6,000 trees planted locally through our community nursery program.
Give Back Through Your Celebration
-
Proceeds support Washington Parks & People, funding transformative projects for parks,
playgrounds, trails, and vacant spaces.
-
Support initiatives that foster community health, urban agriculture, tutoring, job training,
youth services, and immigrant support.
- State-of-the-art sound system with wireless microphones.
- A Baby Grand Piano for an elegant musical touch.
- A Smart TV to enhance your event experience.
- Energy-efficient features like programmable thermostats, photocells, and weatherized lighting.
- Single-stream recycling to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
- Over 6,000 trees planted locally through our community nursery program.
Give Back Through Your Celebration
-
Proceeds support Washington Parks & People, funding transformative projects for parks,
playgrounds, trails, and vacant spaces.
-
Support initiatives that foster community health, urban agriculture, tutoring, job training,
youth services, and immigrant support.
By hosting your wedding or event at The Parks Center, you contribute to:
- Adaptive reuse of historic structures, reducing environmental impact.
- Community-based revitalization projects and health-focused programming.
- A brighter, greener future for Washington, D.C.
Book the Parks Center
The Josephine Butler Parks Center is the perfect venue for weddings, receptions, and a diverse programs of all kinds. Members of Washington Parks & People receive priority booking!
Riverside Healthy Living Center
Washington Parks & People has been the proud owner of the Riverside Healthy Living Center since Spring 2004. The Center has become a hub of activity in the park, and it is now also home to DC’s first comprehensive community food hub. Together with our partners at DC Parks and Recreation, DC Department of the Environment, DC Urban Greens, and the UDC College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), we operate a model urban farm and native reforestation nursery around the corner at the Marvin Gaye Community Greening Center.
The Riverside Story
Set at the hub of Marvin Gaye Park, the Riverside Healthy Living Center is the beautiful historic home of
Barnett’s Cafe and Crystal Room Nightclub, where Marvin Gaye had his professional debut as a teen growing up
nearby. This remarkable place has been a staple in Far Northeast DC for over 70 years. Since 2001,
Parks & People and our many community partners have restored and transformed Riverside into an impact hub
of park-based jobs, health, nutrition, play, community, and justice.
The Riverside Center is named after the community’s 23-year Down by the Riverside campaign to restore and
connect the stream valley with the river, city, and world. The campaign transformed DC’s most forgotten major
park into a model of community renewal, and then changed the name of the park from a slaveholding family to a
lasting tribute to DC’s hometown Motown hero who began singing in the park when he lived at #12 60th Street NE,
in East Capitol Dwellings.
Today, Riverside is used for healthy cooking classes, community forums, park-based job training, exhibitions,
after-school programs, screenings, and celebrations of all kinds. The Center’s facilities include the
2,000-square-foot event space, 1,000-square-foot teaching kitchen and cafe, youth bike repair station, and
seedling center for organic urban agriculture.
Riverside supports health, nutrition, play, workforce development, community connection, and celebrations—rooted in the park and powered by partnerships.
Nsectetur cing5
Detailed description for Nsectetur cing5.
Replace this panel body with your real content for item 5.
