The Howard Theatre

The Howard Theatre stands out with its ornate Beaux-Arts facade and the glowing, marquee-style sign that stretches across the entrance. When it opened in nineteen ten, it offered a stage for Black performers who were barred from most venues in Washington. Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald played here, but the theater also served as a proving ground for amateur nights. One night in the nineteen thirties, a young singer named Pearl Bailey won a talent contest on this stage, launching her professional career.