The 1000 block of Seventh Street was built, for the most part, shortly after the Civil War, reflecting the growth that the entire city of DC experienced at that time. While the earliest building on the block may date from the 1860s, most were built in the early 1870s. The relatively brief period of time during which most of the buildings were constructed is evidenced by the cohesiveness of their appearance, each taking a cue in its height, ornament, and materials from its neighbors.
One noted architect, John G. Meyers (1834-1902), has been documented as having designed a building on this block, but by and large the design of the buildings is simply in keeping with the taste in commercial architecture of the period. While there is little that is unique in their design, the buildings are good examples of,their-type. What is most unique about them today is that they have survived virtually intact. They stand as a reminder of the time when all of DC’s commercial streets were two and three-story, highly ornamented buildings.
DC Inventory: November 21, 1978
National Register: February 2, 1984
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