Banneker Recreation Center opened in 1934 and became known as the premier African American recreation center in the Washington DC area. When first opened the center was called Howard center because of its proximity to Howard University. Shortly after it opened in an effort to preserve historical names that were gradually disappearing from the history of DC a proposal was passed on November 24, 1930 to re-name the center Banneker center after Benjamin Banneker, who aided in laying out the city.

The center, located in the Freedmen’s Bureau subdivision across from Howard University, was built to provide space for adults and supervised play for children.  In addition to the swimming pool, then considered the foremost outdoor facility available for the Black community, the center offered track and field events, mothers’ centers, and music and dance activities.  The center’s program was the product of the recreational reform agenda undertaken by the Department of Recreation, which hoped to maintain social order by educating the citizenry and inculcating good habits. [Ref: African American Historic Places by Beth L. Savage, Carol D. Shull, National Register of Historic Places, United States National Park Service]

The center was the thirteenth center to open in DC and was only one of two segregated centers at the time, the other being the Dunbar center. Together these two centers were recorded as having the highest activity numbering into the thousands. Up until July 21, 1952 the center remained segregated.

Additional Images

Banneker Recreation Center	Banneker Recreation Center	Leah Robinson, student researcher

Additional Documents

African American Historic Places, by Beth L. Savage and Carol D. Shull [Google Book, p. 130]

"Deviance and the Community: Technical Assistance Project (CTAP)". A presentation by Leah Robinson. April 14, 2008.