Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is bounded by South Capitol Street SE, Constitution Avenue NE, 2nd Street NE, Massachusetts Avenue NE, C Street NE, Maryland Avenue NE, 8th Street NE, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 13th Street SE, Potomac Avenue SE, K Street SE, and Virginia Avenue SE.

Here, you’ll find a range of housing styles that, together, make everyday living in the nation’s capital convenient, classy, and luxurious. Capitol Hill consists primarily of stunning historic rowhomes and manors in a range of styles and with a range of architectural features, from Federal and Italianate to Romanesque and Queen Anne.

Considered one of the most powerful neighborhoods in the United States of America, Capitol Hill is a place where modern living meets local (and national) history. Take, for example, The Car Barn, a Romanesque Revival masterpiece that was once home to the Metropolitan Railroad Company and, in 2004, was transformed into a 196-unit condominium.

WHERE WASHINGTON DC WAS BORN

Originally named Jenkins Hill by DC architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the neighborhood now called Capitol Hill was developed as the site of the Capitol Building for the new American nation.

Soon, additional federal institutions rose up in the area. Among these are the Supreme Court, the buildings that make up the Library of Congress, Congressional Cemetery, and closer to the Anacostia River the Marine Barracks. Capitol Hill is also home to several historic houses of worship, including Christ Church, and multiple primary, secondary, and high schools.

The centerpiece of the neighborhood, Eastern Market, was relocated to the Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1873 after falling into disrepair at its original location. In 2007, the historic building was damaged in a fire; since then, Eastern Market has bounced back and become a popular destination for both residents of the neighborhood and tourists alike.

HISTORY EVERYWHERE YOU WALK

In 1976, Capitol Hill’s historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as a landmark DC neighborhood. In the decades since, the neighborhood has drawn increased desirability and, with it, a boom in increased developments.

Barracks Row, the strip of 8th Street SE that leads toward the historic Marine Barracks, is now one of Southeast DC’s hippest places to hang out and home to everything from high-end, award-winning restaurants to casual sports bars. Just across Pennsylvania Avenue, new homes bring with them ground-floor retail including a much-desired Trader Joe’s.

Perhaps one of the greatest perks of life in Capitol Hill is the ever-present history that’s just footsteps away from you. Whether it’s a home tucked away on a neighborhood side street or the tree-lined grounds of the U.S. Capitol, you’re never far from stories and sites that have helped make Washington DC—and the entire nation—what it is today.

Move

Travel throughout the city with access to two Metro stations serving the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines (Capitol South and Eastern Market stations). Enjoy weekend getaways in the car with easy access to both I-695 and I-495. 

Dine

Treat yourself to house-made pop tarts at Ted’s Bulletin. Savor some of the city’s most acclaimed dishes at Rose’s Luxury. Indulge in a big breakfast at The Market Lunch. Raise a glass of beer to friends at Tunnicliff’s Tavern.

Live

Relax and enjoy a lazy Sunday outdoors at Capitol Hill’s popular Stanton and Garfield Parks. Attend cultural discussions and special events at the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Library of Congress.

Shop

Visit charming bookstores (East City Bookshop for new books, Capitol Hill Books for used ones). Shop for groceries at the neighborhood’s historic Eastern Market, and crafts and vintage goods at the Flea Market.