WHY IT MATTTERS
Foggy Bottom’s history stretches from its colonial origins through its German and Irish immigrant industrial era and vibrant African American community, to the transformations brought by urban renewal (1955 photo at left shows 2400 block of I Street), gentrification, highway construction, GWU expansion, and modern development. Foggy Bottom played an important role in the development of the city.
The Historic District includes more than 240 houses, each with stories that illuminate neighborhood life from the 1800s to today. Our House History Map documents the community, its homes, and the lives of the people who lived here—and invites anyone to explore, learn, and contribute.
The House History Map
This project combines individual House History pages for each building in the Foggy Bottom Historic District Study Area with an interactive map. Map layers display historic maps, census records, city directory data, and other information focused on the period from 1870 to 1920. Each property on the map links directly to its House History page, making it easy to move between the map and individual house histories. Check back often for census information updates. (1880 Map at left shows Irish (green), Black, and White households.)
House History DIRECTORY
To reach each individual house House History page:
1. Click the button below.
2. Or, click on the house on the Foggy Bottom House History map (pan and zoom like any online map and click features for pop-ups).
Contribute to the House History Pages
Help build the House History Map project by submitting information, documents, recollections or photographs about your house or others in the neighborhood. After review, we'll add it to the House History pages. Just email us.
Start by reviewing any materials you have collected about your house. If you have neighbors or friends who have left Foggy Bottom but have information to contribute - please share this page with them.
For additional research, a good place to start is the DC History Center's Building Research Guide, and you can find more on our History Resources Page.
Special thanks to The Foggy Bottom Defense and Improvement Corporation, the DC History Center for hosting the map, and Brian Kraft of Visualizing DC History.