Clara Barton House, NHS

Originally, the plan was to go to Glen Echo Park to see an art exhibit. Having never been there before, I didn't realize either what the place actually was or that the Clara Barton House, National Historic Site was located there. I also thought that I knew the basics on Clara Barton, the Red Cross lady. But there was so much to discover.


The site is the home of Clara from 1897 to her death at the age of 90 in 1912. It was designed after the "Johnstown Hotels" that were built by the Red Cross after the Johnstown Flood to house both volunteers and the newly made homeless. It was the American Red Cross' first big stab at a peacetime relief project and really put them on the map.


Through the loving care of a small cadre of individuals over the years, much of the stuff in the home is original to it and was used by Clara when she resided there. The dining room features her weeping willow china and a portrait of her beloved cat, Tom. My paternal grandmother had the same china.


I know this shot is a little blurry, the interior lighting is very subdued; however, I think it gives you a sense of how "ship-like" the inside of the home is. I commented on that to the ranger who replied that a close associate of Barton's referred to it as like being on the inside of a river boat.


A view from the front end of the attic, now storage for furniture, once a bedroom for one of her faithful entourage or frequent guests. The home has neither a heating system nor an air conditioning system. Best visited on temperate days!