Washington City Orphan Asylum

The Washington City Orphan Asylum was established after the War of 1812 due to the number of homeless boys and girls in the District of Columbia.

The Washington Orphan Society was established by a Federal Charter by Congress in 1815, with Dolley Madison, the First Lady of the United States, elected as the first directress.

Besides offering shelter and food, children received educational and vocational training.

[1] The Protestant organization's first building was located near Pennsylvania Avenue on 10th Street NW.

It then became the Hillcrest Children's Village located in new facilities at Van Ness Street and Nebraska Avenue.