Explore The Real D.C.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
There's a lot more to the nation's capital than museums and monuments. Washington is home to many exciting neighborhoods that are filled with historic sites, cultural and entertainment venues, unique independent businesses, and a wide range of restaurants. Accessible by public transportation, these districts are exciting places to get a feel for the "real" D.C. And if you decide your neighborhood needs a lift after exploring some of ours, visit our National Trust Main Street Center for the A-Z on Main Street.
D.C. Main Streets (Interactive Map)
- Adams Morgan: Filled with murals, colorful storefronts, sidewalk cafes and outdoor markets, Adams Morgan is an animated neighborhood that draws a broad range of visitors and locals. It is along 18th Street (and those around it) that you will find the funkiest of everything D.C. has to offer, including cuisine, shopping and nightlife. But the attractions aren't the only things that make the area so diverse. Along with its adjacent sister communities to the north and east, Adams Morgan has long been a gateway community for immigrants and is largely considered the heart of Washington's Latino community.
- Anacostia: Once home to shipbuilders at the Navy Yard, Anacostia has now become a middle-class haven for families wanting proximity to downtown and the river in a park-like setting. Located in the historic Anacostia area is the Frederick Douglass Home as well as Ft. Stanton Park, one of the largest urban parks in the District.
- Barracks Row: Once the Federal City's main business district, Barracks Row is located within the Capitol Hill Historic District and features two- and three-story brick commercial buildings constructed from the Federal era to the present abut charming historic townhouses. A variety of local businesses and restaurants line the vibrant 8th Street.
- Dupont Circle: One of the most dynamic and surprising areas in the city, this downtown neighborhood is filled with superb restaurants, book shops, art galleries and museums. Dupont is a great place to shop and stroll just 20 minutes north of the White House. Don't miss the Phillips Collection, America's first museum of modern art.
- Gateway Georgia Avenue: Upper Georgia Avenue is one of the District's longest and most diverse commercial corridors. A major commuting route, Georgia Avenue connects D.C. with the Maryland communities of Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
- H Street: Bordered by Capitol Hill and Stanton Park neighborhoods, the retail shopping district of H Street once closely followed downtown Washington as a shopping destination for city residents. The corridor from Third Street to 13th Street is now home to the Atlas Performing Arts Center and great nightlife venues.
- Shaw: Historically, Shaw has been one of Washington's most important commercial corridors. Proximity to the D.C. Convention Center has sparked an explosion of restaurants and shops here.
Other D.C. Neighborhoods (Interactive Map)
- Brookland: Historic Brookland, one of the District's "trolley-car suburbs," has tree-lined streets, well-preserved bungalows, blocks of flat front duplexes and row houses with porches, and a scattering of small apartment buildings. Also known as "Little Rome," the area is also home to Catholic University of America and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
- Cleveland Park: Cleveland Park is a residential and commercial neighborhood with a quaint small-town feel. The area is known for its many late 19th century homes, the Washington National Cathedral and the historic Art Deco Uptown Theater. It is also home to the Park and Shop, one of the earliest strip malls built in 1930.
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Georgetown: Founded in 1751 along the Potomac River waterfront, the city of Georgetown substantially predated the establishment of Washington and the District of Columbia. Georgetown retained its separate municipal status until 1871, when it was assimilated into the city of Washington. Today, the primary commercial corridors of Georgetown are M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, which contain high-end shops, bars and restaurants. Georgetown is home to the main campus of Georgetown University and the Old Stone House, the oldest standing building in Washington.
Neighborhood Walking Tours
The best way to see D.C. is by foot. Check out our photo slideshows of these unique Washington neighborhoods and then use our special interactive map to plan your own visit.
Adams Morgan
Barracks Row
Brookland
Cleveland Park
Dupont Circle
Georgetown
H Street
Comments
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Submitted by BrooklandNE at: January 21, 2009
One of the best places to get a feel for Brookland is Colonel Brooks’ Tavern (901 Monroe Street, NE). Not only is there good beer on tap, but there is always a great representation of the diversity that makes our community so interesting. You have the students from Catholic sitting and talking about sports or what’s on the news with neighborhood newcomers and the people who have lived in the area for their entire lives. Everyone is welcome at the bar and in the community.
Submitted by BrooklandNE at: January 21, 2009
One of the best places to get a feel for Brookland is Colonel Brooks’ Tavern (901 Monroe Street, NE). Not only is there good beer on tap, but there is always a great representation of the diversity that makes our community so interesting. You have the students from Catholic sitting and talking about sports or what’s on the news with neighborhood newcomers and the people who have lived in the area for their entire lives. Everyone is welcome at the bar and in the community.