Location: Across from Freedom Plaza, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW D.C.
Architecture: American Beaux Arts/ English Renaissance classical revival
Architects: Cope & Stewardson
Year: Completed in 1908
The John A. Wilson Building was specifically build as the home to the mayor and the 13 members of the Council of the District of Columbia. The original site was a streetcar power station that had been destroyed by a fire in 1897. With the “Public Building Act” of 1902, the United States Congress authorized funding for the construction of a new District municipal building called “the District Building”. This one would occupy the entire block between 13th and 14th Streets NW and later be renamed to commemorate former Council Chair John A. Wilson in 1994.
In 1977, a total of twelve gunmen took around 150 people hostage for nearly 40 hours at three D.C. sites: B’nai Brith’s headquarters, the Islamic Center of Washington, and particularly, the District Building.
During what came to be known as the 1977 Hanafi Siege, the situation grew tense and violent here. Two of those gunmen held about a 12 hostages inside the council chambers on the last floor of the District Building and shot 3 people. The gunmen killed WHUR Reporter Maurice Williams as he stepped off an elevator. They shot and wounded then-city councilman, Marion Barry by a stray shotgun pellet. And, shot and wounded Mack Cantrell, an officer with D.C. Protective Services, which guarded the city facility (though he survived the shooting, he passed a few days later from a heart attack).
The siege was prompted by a personal, and in part political, vendetta of Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, the leader of the group. He wanted to draw attention to the murder of his family in 1973. But made demands too for those convicted of killing Malcolm X and requested the cancellation of the film-premier of Mohammad, Messenger of God on sacrilegious grounds.
This year marks the 40th year anniversary of the siege.
On a lighter note, here’s some + Fun Facts:
- Anyone can visit inside the building!
- The structure was completed during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt.
- During World War II, the building housed the United States Department of War 200 visiting servicemen.
- Two-thirds of the Wilson Building were leased to the Federal government due to the District’s inability to pay for needed repairs in 1995.
- For a period 20 years the offices of the mayor and council were temporarily relocated to One Judiciary Square.
- The fully renovated Wilson Building reopened with all of the District’s government in September 2001.
- The press room at the Wilson Building is named in memory of Maurice Williams, the 24-year-old reporter killed during the domestic terrorist incident.
- There is a photo exhibit currently on display at the Wilson Building, in commemoration of 40 year anniversary of the siege.
- A number of the photos have not previously been published. While some are displayed in the exact location they depict inside the building.
Historic Bite/ TL;DR: The five-story Wilson Building is a contributing structure to the history of D.C.. It holds the municipal offices of the District’s local government and was sadly one of the three sites of the 1977 Hanafi Siege.
HISTORIC SITES 