The Foggy Bottom Historic District and Beyond
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Thank you so much for selecting this walking tour. For a small neighborhood, I bet you were surprised there's so much to see. By now, you must be ready for a beverage. Head to 23rd and I Streets, just past the Foggy Bottom Metro station, to Circa Restaurant or another neighborhood eatery. There, you can take your time, re-read some of the backstories and spend more time looking at the photos. We'd like to keep you surrounded by our row houses as long as we can, but both of our amazing hotel restaurants closed due in part to the reduction of visitors to the area because of COVID. Keep checking back as they may reopen soon.
If you want to learn about Foggy Bottom's rich history, check out the Foggy Bottom Association "History Project" (link below). If the tour sparked your memories of the area we'd love to hear them. For comments about the tour and/or your interest in getting involved with the History Project, email: FLeoneDC@gmail.com or denisev@foggybottomassociation.org.
The Historic District is a small, relatively quiet part of the Foggy Bottom area. Greater Foggy Bottom runs from 17th St. (west of the White House) west to Rock Creek Park. And from Pennsylvania Avenue on the north to Constitution Avenue on the south. Foggy Bottom features a number of historic and monumental sites easily visited by foot or bike.
Images
Greater Foggy Bottom
George Washington has stood at Washington Circle since 1860
The GWU University Yard (H St. between 20th and 21st Sts.)
Western Market - historic buildings fronting GWU offices
The REACH with its new JFK statute at the Kennedy Center
Shops inside the Watergate complex lower level
Columbia Residences, formerly the Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-In Asylum
The Octagon House is one of D.C.'s most haunted houses
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
To the east is the Foggy Bottom Metro station, bracketed by the GWU Hospital on the left and GWU Medical School on the right. Continue east to the heart of the GWU campus, which relocated to Foggy Bottom in 1912. The campus includes both pre-existing and GWU-constructed notable and historic buildings. The GWU Museum (701 21st St.) incorporates the Maxwell Woodhull House (b. 1855), one of the campus' first buildings. Across the street is Tonic Quigley's Restaurant (2036 G St.) (b. 1891), formerly a pharmacy, soda and lunch counter and later GWU's Geography Department. The 2000 block of I Street features the Western Market food hall, on the site of the original Western Market (built 1803) and fronted by 1880s row house facades.
South of University lies "The Northwest Rectangle," which contains the Departments of State and the Interior and other Federal buildings, including the Federal Reserve, which fronts on Constitution Avenue. Further southeast - off 17th Street - are beautiful buildings including the Octagon House and the Organization of American States, with its rear formal garden and reflecting pool.
Once past the Watergate Complex, tour the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It offers free performances every night at 6:00 p.m.at the Millennium Stage. And visit its new THE REACH outdoor performance and rehearsal areas and cafe. Access ramps connect pedestrians and bikers to the Potomac River and other bike paths. If you go south on 23rd Street towards the Lincoln Memorial, you will see the dome of the old Naval Observatory on your right.
To the north of the Historic District is Washington Circle, with its 1860 statute of George Washington. Beyond the Circle is the area known as the (new) West End, which includes the former Columbia Hospital for Women and a plaque marking Duke Ellington's birthplace. To the west is Rock Creek Park which forms the dividing line between Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.
We hope you enjoy your extended tour!