William Dorsey Swann was born into slavery in Maryland in 1860. After the Civil War, his family purchased a farm, and Swann went on to organize drag balls in DC. At these events, formerly enslaved men wore clothes that were traditionally worn by only women at the time. This gathering of people became known as The House of Swann. He and a dozen other men were arrested for the crime of “female impersonation”, and is known for fighting back and becoming the first drag queen in modern American history. Swann Street, named for Dorsey Swann’s direct positive influence on LGBTQIA+ rights and drag history, is the site of this mural. Also at this intersection are historic Black fraternity and sorority houses, featuring ornate architectural details. Our designs, at the recommendation of community members in Dupont Circle, took influence from Dorsey’s lace on his dresses and his iconic fan, and from the architecture at the buildings gracing this intersection. This intersection is an example of how just one block in the nation’s capitol can hold so much history, and how our roads can become carriers of those stories.