The American Chestnut

Historical marker location:

5900 MacArthur Blvd NW, The Palisades, District of Columbia

( Marker is on MacArthur Boulevard Northwest, 0.1 miles north of Little Falls Road Northwest, on the left when traveling north.)

The District was the site of the first U.S. public school for black students: The M Street School (later known as Dunbar High School) was founded in 1870 and was the first public school in the United States for black students. The school became known for its high academic standards and produced many notable alumni, including civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune.