A Heroine's Home

Built for Clara Barton in 1891 by Edward and Edwin Baltzley as part of the National Chautauqua at Glen Echo, the Victorian house beyond the trees had 30 rooms that served as offices, bedrooms, and storage, and it functioned as her home, a warehouse for supplies, and the first permanent headquarters for the American Red Cross. The house reflected Barton's character through her frugality in covering the ceilings with cotton bandages instead of plaster and her pride in the Red Cross shown by its emblem on stained glass windows, revealing the overlap between her private and professional lives as a determined leader and dedicated worker. Today, Clara Barton National Historic Site stands as a symbol of her humanitarian work and lifetime of service.

Glen Echo, Maryland · United States