Capitol Hill

Overview

Capitol Hill is both the political center of the United States and a residential neighborhood of charming Victorian rowhouses, tree-lined streets, and community institutions. It extends east from the Capitol to the Anacostia River.

Highlights

• Eastern Market: A hub of community life since 1873 with indoor food stalls and weekend outdoor craft markets.
• Rowhouse Architecture: Some of the finest Victorian, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque residential architecture in D.C.
• Barracks Row (8th Street SE): The city's oldest commercial corridor with locally owned restaurants and shops.

History

Capitol Hill was part of Pierre L'Enfant's original plan as the site for the national legislature. The residential neighborhood grew rapidly after the Civil War, with the wide streets and ornate rowhouses that define the area today dating primarily from the 1870s-1900s.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Saturday mornings at Eastern Market are a D.C. institution—arrive early for the best produce and artisan goods.
• Tip 2: Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill houses the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's works and hosts free exhibitions.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.