Lincoln Theatre

The Lincoln Theatre is a neoclassical building on U Street, recognizable by its tan-colored brick facade and a large, central three-part window set within a slightly projecting bay. Opened in nineteen twenty-two, it became the cultural epicenter of what was known as Washington's Black Broadway. While many venues in the city enforced segregation, the Lincoln provided equal access to entertainment for the Black community. Under the management of A. E. Lichtman beginning in nineteen twenty-seven, the theater employed an overwhelmingly Black staff and hosted legendary performers including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.