Weeden House

The story

Behind the sketch.

The Weeden House was built in 1819 for Henry C. Bradford, and later housed U.S. Supreme Court Justice John McKinley. Its most celebrated resident, however, was artist and poet, Maria Howard Weeden, better known as Howard Weeden, who was born here in 1846, and spent much of her life in the house. Union officers commandeered the property during the Civil War, temporarily displacing the family. Afterward, Weeden became known for delicate watercolor portraits of formerly enslaved African Americans, often paired with poems written in dialect. Her work is admired for its individuality and humanity, while also inviting modern discussion about race, representation, and who controls another person's story. Today the house is a museum, and an especially fitting stop in an artist's sketchbook.

Neighborhood

Twickenham

Book location

Page 31