As the nation’s capital, the District has long been an epicenter of political activism and cultural progression. For the women’s suffrage movement, D.C. quickly became a central arena for collaborative meetings, government lobbying, and public demonstrations. Women’s suffrage groups established headquarters in the city to develop strategic plans intended to increase women’s visibility in the political arena and strengthen the collective bonds of suffragists across the United States. The sites…

The port of Georgetown was founded in 1751. Established 40 years prior to the decision to make Washington, DC the nation's capital, Georgetown is the city's oldest neighborhood. Throughout much of its history, Georgetown was a mixed-use commercial and industrial center, surrounded by housing for residents of all income levels. In the mid-18th century, Georgetown was little more than a trading post where tobacco farmers sold their crops. The Revolutionary War changed the town into a depot for…

In 2023, six new landmarks and one new historic district were designated in Washington. The DC Preservation League nominated two of these landmarks: Chevy Chase Savings Bank and Northeast Savings Bank. In January, Chevy Chase Savings Bank, co-sponsored with Historic Chevy Chase DC, was designated by HPRB. The bank, designed by Arthur B. Heaton and completed in 1921, has since been added to the National Register. In October, Northeast Savings Bank, co-sponsored with Capitol Hill Restoration…

This interactive map shows the buildings designed by the five architects featured in Part Two of the DC Architects To Know Series, which can be found on the DC Preservation League website. These buildings are historically-designated and are on the DC Inventory of Historic Sites and/or the National Register of Historic Places. Albert Cassell (1895 - 1969): Howard University's Founders Library, Mayfair Mansions, Prince Hall Masonic Temple — Cassell served as Howard University's official…

Ambling up and down one of DC’s leading thoroughfares, the D70 Metrobus’s path along Connecticut Avenue covers major ground in the northwest section of the city. In the years following World War I, Connecticut Avenue developed into a major residential and commercial corridor, with high-style apartment buildings popping up along the avenue. Residents were able to move farther away from downtown and commute using public transportation – first on streetcars, then on buses, and eventually on…