Washington D.C - DuPont Circle

DuPont Circle is one of the District’s best-known neighborhoods, and there’s so much history and beautiful architecture to love in the neighborhood. A commercial district with great shopping and restaurants, a variety of housing types from historic houses to newer buildings, and a truly walk-able character. Most DuPont residences are within a short walk to neighborhood restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, museums, galleries, and parks. The neighborhood is also accessible, DuPont Circle is served by the Washington Metro Red Line at the DuPont Circle Metro station.

DuPont Circle is located in the "Old City" of Washington, D.C. the area planned by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant, but remained largely undeveloped until after the American Civil War. Improvements made in the 1870s by a board of public works headed by Alexander "Boss" Shepherd transformed the area into a fashionable residential neighborhood. On February 25, 1882, Congress renamed the circle to "DuPont Circle", and authorized a memorial statue of Samuel Francis Du Pont, in recognition of his service as a rear admiral during the Civil War. The DuPont Circle statue, sculpted by Launt Thompson, was erected in 1884, and the circle was landscaped with exotic flowers and trees. During the 1870’s and 1880’s, mansions were built along Massachusetts Avenue, one of Washington's grand avenues, and townhouses were built throughout the neighborhood. In 1949 traffic tunnels and an underground streetcar station were built under the circle as part of the now-defunct Capital Transit project. In 1975, the store ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial. Gentrification accelerated in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and the area is now a more mainstream and trendy location with coffeehouses, restaurants, bars, and upscale retail stores.

DuPont Circle gets its name from Samuel Du Pont, an admiral who served during the American Civil War. DuPont Circle is filled with historic homes and embassies. Popular landmarks include Heurich House, also known as the Brew-master's Castle, the Textile Museum and the Walsh-McLean House. DuPont Circle is also great for dining and shopping and small private art galleries. DuPont became a bohemian zone, a place for sketch artists and beat poets. Washington's hippies played their guitars on the Circle's grass in the 1960's; attracted by the liberal atmosphere, gay people moved to the neighborhood in droves.