Howard Theatre as a key venue for Black performers

The Howard Theatre, opened in 1910 at 620 T Street NW, served as a major performance venue for African American artists during the 20th century. Noted performers including Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald appeared there, and the theater is documented for its role in the development of Black popular music and entertainment. It remains recognized as a historic cultural institution in Washington, D.C.