Foggy Bottom Historic District Walking Tour

1. Welcome: The Foggy Bottom Historic District

The walk leads you through the alleys, streets, and parks of the four-block working class Foggy Bottom Historic District. In the 1800s, and especially after the Civil War, industries developed in Foggy Bottom along the Potomac River. The Christian Heurich brewery, the Washington Gas Light works and other industry's smoky odors – added to the fog present in low lying areas – contributed to the name “Foggy Bottom.” In the 1880s, row houses (including alley houses) were built for working class Irish and German laborers. The area also saw an influx of African Americans during and after the Civil War, until by 1920, most residents of the Historic District were African American. By the 1950s, the industries closed down, the air cleared, and Foggy Bottom became a more desirable place to live. Row houses were renovated and new apartments were built.This walking tour highlights the historic period, but Foggy Bottom's history did not end in 1915. The tour therefore also discusses more modern buildings and developments. Despite changes over time, the neighborhood remains a community that has worked to preserve its history, character, and quality of life.This walking tour is part of the Foggy Bottom Association's History Project, which collects and shares the rich history of the neighborhood. To learn more about Foggy Bottom History, see the links below.

2. Foggy Bottom's Grandest House

Our walk starts at the Fitzgerald House, the largest historic house in the Foggy Bottom Historic District (840-844 New Hampshire Ave.). Built in 1886, it was used as a grocery store and residence from the 1890s to the 1950. Its two-story brick construction and architectural details are typical of the neighborhood, but it is built on a more massive scale. There are two front entrances on New Hampshire Avenue and one entrance on I Street. And for as long as anyone remembers, the house has been painted yellow. The house's large landscaped yard features peonies, roses, and hollies. The Backstory and Context section below defines some architectural terms used on the tour.

3. Working-Class Row Houses

The 2400 block of I Street features typical two-story working class Foggy Bottom Historic District row houses. Most of the brick row houses you see on both sides of the street were built between 1880 and 1910. The row houses were also used as grocery stores, saloons and other neighborhood businesses. They faced potential demolition in the 1950s, but instead, following the Georgetown neighborhood model, the houses were renovated and preserved.

4. Snows Court - DC's First Alley Houses

Snows Court hosts one of the earliest developments of alley house dwellings in D.C., with its first houses built by 1858. It is also boasts nearly 30 original brick houses - one of the largest collections in D.C. These simple two-story dwellings lacked indoor plumbing and housed D.C.'s poorer residents. From Teddy to Eleanor Roosevelt, "housing reformers" worked to eliminate these dwellings and vacate the residents. In the 1950s, new residents' renovation efforts succeeded in saving the remaining dwellings.

5. Nash's Livery Stable

Built in 1914, Wilber Nash's large brick commercial livery stable rented horses and carriages to the community. It is one of the few remaining livery stables in D.C.'s alleys, and the only one in Foggy Bottom. By 1914, the automobile was becoming more popular, reducing the need for stables. The building has functioned as a warehouse since at least the 1940s. It is a protected historic building and has the potential for future adaptive re-use.

6. Snows Court Row Houses

Continue walking through Snows Court to see additional 1880-era row houses, including the much photographed row of Nos. 1-7. This area also includes the alley's smallest house and the site of the founding of the Foggy Bottom Association, which since the 1950s has worked to preserve the neighborhood's history, maintain its green spaces, and advocate for the community on issues of concern.

7. Hughes Mews - Foggy Bottom's Other Alley

Hughes Mews - formerly known as Hughes Court - has a small collection of original picturesque alley row houses dating from the late 1800s. At one time this alley held as many people as nearby Snows Court and shared its bad reputation as being overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe. As with Snows Court, that reputation ignored the presence of the alley's low-income, but close-knit and vibrant community. The alley currently features a large mural hand-painted by artist Elizabeth Graeber, "Garden," featured in the 2014 Arts in Foggy Bottom bi-annual exhibition.

8. Queen Anne's Lane - a New Addition to the Historic District

To leave Hughes Mews, take a left onto Queen Anne’s Lane. The 18 houses on Queen Anne's Lane (Nos. 2521-2538) were generally constructed between 1960 and 1962. Prior to their construction, the only entrance to Hughes Mews (then Hughes Court) was from 25th Street. Al Wheeler was the developer and Foggy Bottom resident Melita Rodeck was the architect for this row house development. The houses originally sold for $45,000-$50,000; 2022 estimate - $1.2M. Currently, some of the garages are being converted to extra bedrooms (to allow more room for additional residents).

9. Highway Overlook - Lost Foggy Bottom

The corner of 26th and I Streets offers a view of the Foggy Bottom area that was destroyed when the Potomac Freeway - an extension of I-66 from Roosevelt Bridge - was built in the mid 1960s. The highway construction wiped out several blocks of historic Foggy Bottom, including renovated row houses, alleys, and an elementary school. Three remaining historic row houses are visible on I & 27th Streets, across the Freeway. The area also included an ancient Native American burial site, a reminder of the area's first residents.

10. Rows with Spacious Front Gardens

The 2500 block of I Street features a variety of sizes and styles of working-class row houses. Irish immigrant builder Peter McCartney built several of these houses. The largest group of houses is unique because their set backs from the street allow for a variety of terraced landscaping. At the top of the street are three imposing row houses, in various stages of renovation. This stop also features historic photos of members of an African American family who made their homes here in the early-mid 20th century.

11. The Center of the Historic District

The central cross-roads of the Historic District (25th and I Street) provides a view of variety of row houses styles, including the blue wood-frame house, which is potentially associated with the Underground Railroad. In the past, this corner also hosted bars, grocery stores, a funeral home, and a beauty parlor. Currently the corner houses a mix of owner-occupied, rentals, a small apartment building, and a few Airbnb's.

12. Story Book Row and Foggy Bottom's "Octagon" House

The row houses of 25th Street transition from the typical Foggy Bottom facades to a group of six houses with unusual and fanciful combinations of architectural elements, which may have appealed to German brewery workers. This group of narrow houses represent the creativity and the skill level of builders and craftsmen. No. 811 features a vertical yellow sculpture, "Five Tap Roots," installed as part of the 2014 Arts in Foggy Bottom exhibition. At the end of 25th Street is a distinctive yellow turreted house built in 1890, sometimes referred to as "Foggy Bottom's Octagon House."

13. View from the Bottom of the Historic District

Standing on the corner of 25th and H Streets prior to the 1950s, you would have seen a very different view. It would be dominated by the Washington Gas Light Company's gas works, including its huge round gas holding tanks and smoke-emitting coal gasification plant. Other nearby industries included the Christian Heurich and Drury-Abner breweries, cement plants, and lime kilns. Industry closed down in the 1950s, making the neighborhood a more desirable place to live. Soon the Watergate and other modern apartments and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts replaced the old industries.

14. Architectural Variety on New Hampshire Avenue

New Hampshire Avenue forms the eastern border of the Historic District. Going up (north) New Hampshire Avenue, there are three groups of five row houses each built between 1885 and 1890. These colorful groups present a variety of architectural features including decorated cornices, bay windows, brickwork designs, arches, and landscaped front yard areas. The Arc Hotel in the middle of the block, built in 1960, breaks the link of historic row houses.

15. Historic Houses and Modern Murals

Heading north, towards Washington Circle, is a white brick 7-11 convenience store (912 New Hampshire Ave.), which is one of the Historic District's oldest houses (b. 1876). Above the 7-11 you can see a rooftop mural by D.C. artist Kelly Towles. Turning left onto 24th Street, there are four colorful row houses built in 1884. Don't miss Aniekan Udofia's "Foggy Bottom" mural on the left at the Varsity Apartments. The corner of 24th and K Streets once housed a large Catholic school, a convent, a women's refuge, a WWI women's recreation center, and an orphan home, all of which are now gone.

16. The Manila House and St. Paul's Church

The 2400 block of K Street was once the most prosperous section of what is now the Historic District. No. 2422 is one of the Historic District's oldest, built in 1874. From the 1930s to 1950s, it served as "The Manila House," a gathering place for Filipino-Americans (as noted in the landmark designation plaque). The adjoining row houses (1885-1890) feature decorative iron stair risers and leaded stained glass windows. St. Paul's Parish Episcopalian Church has a long history, with its first church built on Washington Circle in 1866. The current church was built in 1948, when the George Washington University demolished its original building to build the (since relocated) GWU Hospital.

17. The Tallest Row Houses

Turning left onto 25th Street, the first half of the 900 block features row houses built from 1879 to 1979. The three-story (plus basement) row houses feature a variety of decorative brick work. One of these, No. 951, is the tallest of the remaining seven Peter McCartney-built houses in the neighborhood. Three-story plus row houses are present in Washington, but rare in the Historic District.

18. The Historic District's Longest Row

Continuing on the east side of 25th Street, past the 925 Apartment building (b. 1959), are more modern buildings. One exception is No. 909, which was built in 1874 (although renovated in 1938). Across 25th Street – on the west side – stand 14 houses all built in the 1880s (900-922 25th St.). This is the longest row of original houses in the Historic District, and includes the house of the GWU Hospital surgeon who treated Ronald Reagan after his 1981 assassination attempt. Walk up the 2400 block of I Street, past additional historic row houses, to the Tour starting/ending point.

19. The Foggy Bottom Historic District and Beyond

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.

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Foggy Bottom Historic District Walking Tour

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