Women on-call: Local artist transforms call boxes creating a tribute to historic women
Stepping off the escalator at Metro Center, a tall, bright red sculpture is one of the first things that pedestrians see. These structures, called call boxes, are scattered throughout D.C. and have existed since before the invention of the telephone. During the mid-1800s, police and fire departments used the tall, gray house-shaped boxes to locate emergencies and communicate within their department. After decades of neglect, these historic boxes have found a new purpose: public artwork commemorating DC’s famous women.
