Becoming National Woman's Party headquarters Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

alva vanderbilt belmont

on may 8, 1921, national woman s party (nwp) announced had purchased old brick capitol, historic red brick structure built in 1815 congress temporary site national legislature until united states capitol (burned during war of 1812) rebuilt. organization planned offer library, reading rooms, sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, , dining facility @ new headquarters, replaced temporary facilities on lafayette square. organization obtained structure $150,000, , spent $50,000 repairing , upgrading it. headquarters dedicated on may 21, 1922.

however, in 1902, u.s. senate park commission issued recommendations development of national capital. report, report of senate park commission. improvement of park system of district of columbia (better known mcmillan plan after commission s chairman, senator james mcmillan) had recommended clearing area around u.s. capitol building , erecting cluster of government office buildings here. included new united states supreme court building. in 1926, congress enacted public buildings act, provided land purchase , construction of federal triangle complex of government office buildings between national mall , pennsylvania avenue nw. half funding in act, however, provided construction of new supreme court building across 1st street ne u.s. capitol.

the site new court structure site of old capitol building. eminent domain proceedings began swiftly. in 1927, fearing nwp might lose headquarters, alva vanderbilt belmont, nwp s wealthy benefactor , co-founder, paid senator dale $100,000 in cash option purchase sewall house. condemnation proceedings went against party. although offered $100,000 property, nwp protested. in november 1928 national woman s party accepted award of $299,200 existing headquarters in old capitol prison.

belmont exercised option, , obtained title sewall house on may 21, 1929. party announced purchase of structure in september 1929.

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