Mary McLeod Bethune Council House

The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site in Washington, DC, commemorates the life and work of African American educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. Bethune achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington townhouse that is now the National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women. Bethune was a life-long educator and founded a college that still bears her name, Bethune-Cookman. She was the first African American woman to be a college president. Known as a prolific writer, she also established herself as an advisor to four presidents. Today, the National Historic Site is a living memorial to Bethune’s legacy, and it continues to engage visitors in her story and her work for social justice.