Sewall-Belmont House (National Women's Party/Alice Paul)

Home to the National Women's Party for over 80 years, the Sewall-Belmont house has seen America change from Revolutionary times into the modern age.

Built in the heart of Washington D.C. in 1799, and located across from the Supreme Court, the house burned along with many other buildings in the Capitol when its residents resisted invading British Troops during the War of 1812.

Former residents of Sewall-Belmont include a United States Secretary Treasurer and a United States Senator. Alice Paul and the National Women's Party took ownership in 1929 after their former headquarters, the Old Capital Building, was taken by the US government for construction of the new Supreme Court building.

Alice Paul and the National Women's Party, known as "Silent Sentinels," staged marches and picketed President Wilson at the White House, stating it was necessary to "hold the party in power responsible."

The suffragists were often attacked by mobs and several, including Paul, were imprisoned. In prison they began hunger strikes and endured brutal treatment. Suffragists won their battle in 1920 with the passing of the 19th Amendment that guaranteed women the right to vote.

Not content with simply the right to vote, Paul introduced the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 which passed decades later, but was never ratified. She worked on equal rights legislation until the end of her life at the age of 92. Other causes included clauses for gender equality incorporated in both the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the United Nations Charter.

Today the Sewall-Belmont house is a National Historic Landmark and its museum and library is dedicated to preserving the history of the Women's Suffrage Movement and other women's rights initiatives