Myrtilla Miner Building
Myrtilla Miner Building
Renovating the Historic Myrtilla Miner Building
The Myrtilla Miner Building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its significant role in Black education in Washington, D.C. Located on Howard University’s central campus, the building was purchased by Howard University in 1997 and has partially housed offices for the Howard University School of Education staff. The building will undergo major renovations as part of Howard University’s initial $785 million investment to accelerate its Central Campus Master Plan (CCMP), in support of the Howard Forward 2024 Strategic Plan. The renovated Miner Building will be a shared space that supports interdisciplinary teaching and learning between the Howard University School of Education and the Howard University School of Mathematics and Science.
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History of Myrtilla Miner Building
The Miner Building was originally constructed in 1913. The building was designed by Washington architect, Leon E. Dessez, under the supervision of Municipal Architect Snowden Ashford and named for Miss Myrtilla Miner (1815-1864), an educator who fought for the rights of Black teachers and students. The program was a major source of teachers and administrators for the segregated public schools in Washington, D.C. and other southern communities. There was a notably robust community of abolitionists and advocates for educational equality i.e., Johns Hopkins who was a philanthropic supporter of the Normal School. The Miner Building was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This building housed the literal genesis of Black K-12 educators in Washington, D.C. The connection and acknowledgement of this history and legacy is part of what makes the redevelopment program unique.
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