Diagonals: East Capitol Hill

Let’s meet at Eastern Market Metro Station and enjoy a spring morning poking around the Capitol Hill Historic District!

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/0/d/4/600_436448404.jpeg

The Capitol Hill Historic District takes its name from the hill, which in 1790 was called Jenkins Hill or Jenkins Heights, that Pierre L'Enfant chose as the site of what he described as the "Congress House." The street pattern in Capitol Hill remains faithful to the original 1791 L'Enfant Plan of grand diagonal avenues superimposed over a standard grid pattern. These diagonals, along with the historic buildings and landmarks they connect, will form the highlights of our hike.

Capitol Hill is the largest residential historic district in the District of Columbia. Almost every street is composed of row houses of different varieties and periods: Federal townhouses, 19th Century manor houses, small frame dwellings, ornate Italianate houses and late 19th century press brick rowhouses are all represented, providing a jumble of Eastlake, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque architectural styles.

The route: Starting from the Eastern Market Metro Station, we’ll head south past the Marine Barracks to the old gate to the Navy Yard, circle around “Blue Castle,” originally a repair shop for the Washington and Georgetown Railway, and return north past “Barracks Row,” a line of shops that has catered to generations of Marines stationed in the barracks across the street. Then we’ll turn west to walk past Christ Church to Marion Park, where we’ll turn northeast along South Carolina Ave to Market Park, passing the Friendship House along the way. Then it’s northwest along Pennsylvania to the Folger Shakespeare Library, and a turn northeast along Maryland Avenue to Stanton Park. From Stanton Park we’ll walk southeast along Massachusetts Avenue to Lincoln Park and the Emancipation Memorial. Then we’re on the home stretch, southwest along North Carolina Avenue to 7th Street SE, where we’ll turn left and walk the two remaining blocks to our starting point at the intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue.

This is an easy hike, about 5.2 miles of smiles, and should take about 2 hours. The surface is sidewalks throughout, with some steps here and there.

Google map: http://tinyurl.com/mvtrcmd

PDF map: http://tinyurl.com/l5fzeeb

How to get there:

• Metro: Eastern Market Metro Station is on the Blue and Orange lines.

• Driving from Virginia:

1. Head northeast on I-395 N and follow signs for I-695
2. Take the 6th St SE exit toward Navy Yard
3. Continue straight onto Virginia Ave SE
4. Turn left onto 8th St SE
5. Destination will be on the left; parallel park nearby

• Driving from Maryland/points north:

1. Take MD-295 S; continue on Columbia Highway 295 S as you enter DC
2. Take the exit toward Pennsylvania Ave E and merge onto Pennsylvania Ave E
3. Make a U-turn at Fairlawn Ave S
4. Turn left onto 8th Street SE
5. Destination will be on the right; parallel park nearby

What to bring: Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired (leashes are required).

Weather: The forecast is overcast and a high of 61 degrees. Updates here: http://tinyurl.com/kmbkcpx

Advisory: As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is permitted in this group.

Administrative stuff: There are public restrooms and drinking fountains in the Eastern Market nearby. There are also commercial establishments just south of our meetup point and along our hiking route.

Notes:

• Capitol Hill Historic District, National Park Service: http://tinyurl.com/l4yq8jj

• Capitol Hill History Project: http://tinyurl.com/lygkded

• Capitol Hill, Wikipedia: http://tinyurl.com/m2putxm

• National Register of Historic Places: http://tinyurl.com/ly6tep2

• Eastern Market: http://tinyurl.com/4ayhj8y

• The Flea Market: http://tinyurl.com/m7qpk4q