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103-536: Oak Lawn (later known as the Dean Estate , Temple Heights , and Temple Hill ) was a large house and wooded estate that once stood on the edge of today's Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The estate was bounded by 19th Street, Columbia Road , Connecticut Avenue , and Florida Avenue . Previously called Widow's Mite , the estate was originally several hundred acres, but by

206-891: A bohemian feel and became popular among the gay and lesbian community . Along with The Castro in San Francisco, Hillcrest in San Diego , Greenwich Village in New York City, Boystown in Chicago , Oak Lawn in Dallas , Montrose in Houston , and West Hollywood in Los Angeles, Dupont Circle is considered a historic locale in the development of American gay identity. D.C.'s first gay bookstore, Lambda Rising , opened in 1974 and gained notoriety nationwide. In 1975,

309-415: A $ 12,000,000 mixed-use project that was unlike any development ever built in the country. The U-shaped project, which was similar in size and scope to the large Watergate complex built years later, was called Crystal Heights and later Crystal City. It was to include over a dozen 14-story towers made of white marble, glass, and bronze and a 24-story central tower. Eleven of the fifteen towers would house

412-658: A 1997 excavation near the Whitehurst Freeway, a major freeway which runs parallel to the Potomac River in Georgetown, gathered findings of a "hair comb, hammer stone, and pendants." This land, upon which modern-day Georgetown is established, was the site for the Tohoga village, which Fleet had observed in his time as captive . Tohoga was a trading village, with it being located along the river bank of

515-478: A 2,500-room hotel, with around half of its rooms designed with working fireplaces. The remaining four towers would house duplex apartments that shared a similar design to another one of Wright's unbuilt projects, St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie Towers in New York City . In addition to the towers, Crystal Heights was to include a 1,000-seat theater, large shopping center, fountains, and gardens, and Wright promised

618-403: A brickyard and slaughterhouse. There also was a creek, Slash Run, that began near 15th Street NW and Columbia Road NW, ran from 16th Street near Adams Morgan , through Kalorama and within a block of Dupont Circle, but the creek has since been enclosed in a sewer line. Improvements made in the 1870s by a board of public works headed by Alexander "Boss" Shepherd transformed the area into

721-476: A fashionable residential neighborhood. In 1871, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction of the traffic circle, then called Pacific Circle, as specified in L'Enfant's plan . On February 25, 1882, Congress renamed it "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. Unveiled on December 20, 1884,

824-513: A fixture in Dupont Circle for over 30 years and includes over 100 rooms and 32 secret doors. Also overlooking the square is The Dupont Circle Hotel . Two disused semicircular trolley tunnels follow the outline of the circle; the one on the east is currently Dupont Underground, an art and performance space. In addition to its residential components, consisting primarily of high-priced apartments and condominiums, Dupont Circle

927-515: A lack of funding after World War II began. In 1945 the Cafritz Construction Company and Charles H. Tompkins Company purchased the property for $ 1,000,000, and announced plans to construct eight buildings on the site that would serve as a hotel and apartments. The architectural firm of E. Burton Corning and Raymond G. Moore was chosen to design the $ 2,500,000 project. In addition to the hotel and apartments, plans included

1030-578: A local developer selected Frank Lloyd Wright to design a massive mixed-use project there ( Crystal Heights ) that would include 14 towers and a hotel: that project was also canceled. During the next 20 years, multiple plans for Oak Lawn never came to fulfillment. The Oak Lawn house was demolished in 1948, and the Treaty Oak cut down in 1953. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Washington Hilton and two commercial buildings were built on

1133-593: A loose confederacy of tribes in Southern Maryland from the village of Moyaone to the south. As the neighboring Maryland colony sought land for tobacco plantations, the Nacotchtank were encroached upon and forcibly removed. They were last recorded in the late 1600s to have taken refuge on nearby Theodore Roosevelt Island located in the Potomac River . Over time, the small population that

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1236-566: A mild, temperate climate in the mid-Atlantic, allowed for the Nacotchtank to become a flourishing, self-sustainable community with an abundance in myriad natural resources. By being situated along the confluence of two major rivers, the Nacotchtank had a reliable supply of fish and the area soon became a well-known fishing ground. Additionally, the rivers were surrounded by a vast area of woodlands, which housed wild game such as bison, turkey, deer, and geese. The Nacotchtank were also accomplished in agricultural practices, as they would move inland from

1339-415: A much larger group of 7,000 members in comparison to the roughly 300 members of the Nacotchtank tribe. The Piscataway affiliation was intended for protection against the rival Powhatan Chiefdom of eastern Virginia. The Piscataway Chief, or tayac, held a loose confederacy over the Nacotchtank in addition to the other surrounding tribes. The rank of the tayac was supreme to that of the individual chiefs of

1442-415: A parking lot were revived by 1952. In 1952 the companies announced plans for a twelve-story office building to be constructed on a one-acre (0.4 ha) portion of the property at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Avenues. The architect chosen for the project, Leroy L. Werner, had designed a "park at your desk" office building at 1625 I Street NW which featured an indoor parking ramp, gradually rising inside

1545-552: A raid against the Nacotchtank. As a result of the raid, a mixed colonial and Patawomeke force killed 18 Nacotchtank people and drove the rest from their cabins before plundering and burning the village. Captain Fleet remained a captive of the Nacotchtank, but would escape in 1626. In 1626, when Captain Fleet escaped, he left with a great sum of knowledge of the Nacotchtank way of life and would use that information in partnering in trade with other tribes. Fleet began sailing up and down

1648-404: A result, the Nacotchtank suffered a large population loss. In 1668, the Nacotchtank tribe, depopulated from Eurasian diseases, collectively relocated to Anacostine Island , which has since been renamed to Theodore Roosevelt Island. Theodore Roosevelt Island is located directly across from Georgetown in the Potomac River, between what is now Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. By 1697,

1751-467: A river which made the area appear to be very pleasant. These initial encounters were peaceful and did not affect the Nacotchtank existence. In the year 1621, Captain Henry Fleet, age 20, took a party of approximately 26 settlers from Jamestown in an attempt to barter for corn from the Nacotchtank. The Nacotchtank were suspicious of the colonists, and a confrontation erupted into fighting. All of

1854-551: A sunken garden, nursery school, gymnasium, pool, and dining areas. Around the same time Kansas Senator Arthur Capper and California Representative Edouard Izac introduced legislation in Congress that would allocate $ 900,000 to purchase Oak Lawn. The legislation would provide funds for a memorial honoring Union soldiers that served during the Civil War . Both plans for the site were criticized by locals who sought to preserve

1957-468: A turn-of-the-century writer who described the district as "the Striver's section, a community of Negro aristocracy". The area, which was once considered an overlap of the Dupont Circle and Shaw neighborhoods, is today a historic district. Many of its buildings are the original Edwardian -era residences, along with several apartment and condominium buildings and a few small businesses. The neighborhood

2060-636: Is a dialect of the Nanticoke language, which belongs to the Algonquian subfamily of languages. The Algonquian subfamily belongs to an even larger grouping of languages, the Macro-Algonquian phylum. All languages that fall under the Macro-Algonquian phylum are polysynthetic , meaning that an individual word is made up of many different morphemes , which are the smallest linguistic units of meaning. The principal village, Nachatank, housed

2163-446: Is centered around the traffic circle, which is divided between two counterclockwise roads. The outer road serves all the intersecting streets, while access to the inner road is limited to through traffic on Massachusetts Avenue. Connecticut Avenue passes under the circle via a tunnel; vehicles on Connecticut Avenue can access the circle via service roads that branch from Connecticut near N Street and R Street. The park within

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2266-402: Is derived from the word anaquashatanik , meaning "a town of traders"; this reflected how the Nacotchtank were a trading people established on fertile land on the nearby rivers. The process by which Nacotchtank was slowly changed to Anacostine was done by European colonists. During their colonization, English settlers frequently got rid of unfamiliar and unaccustomed sounds in the words from

2369-769: Is home to numerous embassies , many of which are located in historic residences. The Thomas T. Gaff House serves as the Colombian ambassador's residence, and the Walsh-McLean House is home to the Indonesian embassy. Located east of Dupont Circle on Massachusetts Avenue is the Clarence Moore House , now serving as the Embassy of Uzbekistan , and the Emily J. Wilkins House , which formerly housed

2472-1168: Is home to some of the nation's most prestigious think tanks and research institutions, including the American Enterprise Institute , the Brookings Institution , the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , the Institute for Policy Studies , the Aspen Institute , the German Marshall Fund , the Center for Global Development , the Stimson Center , the Eurasia Center , and the Peterson Institute . The renowned Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins

2575-750: Is host to the parade, and the street festival is held in Penn Quarter. Held annually since 1986, the Dupont Circle High Heel Race takes place on the Tuesday before Halloween (October 31). The race pits dozens of drag queens against each other in a sprint down 17th Street NW between R Street and Church Street, a distance of three short blocks. The event attracts thousands of spectators and scores of participants. Nacotchtank The Nacotchtank , also Anacostine , were an Algonquian Indigenous people of

2678-541: Is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue  NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW. The circle is named for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont . The traffic circle contains the Dupont Circle Fountain in its center. The neighborhood is known for its high concentration of embassies , many located on Embassy Row , and think tanks , many located on Think Tank Row . Dupont Circle

2781-468: Is located in the "Old City" of Washington, D.C. , the area planned by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant that remained largely undeveloped until after the American Civil War , when there was a large influx of new residents. Based on the original L'Enfant plan , the area occupied by the circle was intended to be rectangular in shape, similar to Farragut Square . Dupont Circle was once home to

2884-545: Is located less than two blocks from the circle. Dupont Circle is also home to the Founding Church of Scientology museum and Scientology's National Affairs Office. The Phillips Collection , the nation's first museum of modern art, is located near the circle; its most famous and popular work on display is Renoir 's giant festive canvas Luncheon of the Boating Party . Additionally, the national headquarters of

2987-647: The Washington Times-Herald (sold to The Washington Post in 1954) and declared journalistic warfare on Franklin D. Roosevelt from 15 Dupont Circle, continuing throughout World War II to push her policies, which were echoed in the New York Daily News , run by her brother Joseph Medill Patterson , and the Chicago Tribune , run by their first cousin, Colonel Robert R. McCormick . Today's Dupont Circle includes

3090-571: The AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. Capital Pride is an annual LGBT pride festival held each June in Washington. As of 2007 , the festival is the fourth-largest LGBT pride event in the United States, with over 200,000 people in attendance. The Capital Pride parade takes place annually on Saturday during the festival and travels through the streets of the neighborhood. Dupont Circle

3193-492: The Adams Morgan neighborhood. When Morgan bought the estate in 1866, it was around 10 acres (4 ha) and was bounded by present-day 19th Street, Columbia Road , Connecticut Avenue , and Florida Avenue . The surrounding area was still largely undeveloped. The Holmead's Burying Ground was just to the south and on nearby present-day California Street there was a training area for soldiers. In 1873 Morgan greatly expanded

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3296-745: The Australian embassy and now is occupied by the Peruvian Chancery. Iraq operates a consular services office in the William J. Boardman House on P Street. Other landmarks, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, include the International Temple , Embassy Gulf Service Station , Christian Heurich Mansion (also known as Brewmaster's Castle), Whittemore House (headquarters to

3399-640: The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America , the nation's oldest veterans organization, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History , and the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center are also located in Dupont Circle. DuPont Circle roughly coincides with the following five Census tracts, which had a total population of 15,099 in 2020. The area is roughly 70% non-Hispanic (NH) White, 10% Hispanic, 9% NH Asian, 7% NH Black and 4% NH Multiracial. Note: "Circle" refers to

3502-474: The Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque revival styles. Rarer are the palatial mansions and large freestanding houses that line the broad, tree-lined diagonal avenues that intersect the circle. Many of these larger dwellings were built in the styles popular between 1895 and 1910. One such grand residence is the marble and limestone Patterson Mansion at 15 Dupont Circle. This Italianate mansion,

3605-456: The Strivers' Section , a small residential area west of 16th Street roughly between Swann Street and Florida Avenue. The Strivers' Section was an enclave of upper-middle-class African Americans —often community leaders—in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The area includes a row of houses on 17th Street owned by Frederick Douglass and occupied by his son. It takes its name from

3708-643: The Washington Hilton , with the east and west sides shaped like the letter Y, was criticized by architect Frederick Gutheim in The Washington Post . Gutheim suggested Tabler study Hilton 's more inspiring designs, including the Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus and Caribe Hilton Hotel . He also noted that construction of the second office building on the property, named the Universal North Building, could block

3811-526: The White House underwent renovation. The Coolidges welcomed Charles Lindbergh as a houseguest after his historic transatlantic flight . Lindbergh made several public appearances at the house, waving to roaring crowds from the second-story balcony, and befriended the Patterson Family, with whom he increasingly came to share isolationist and pro- German views. Cissy Patterson later acquired

3914-822: The Woman's National Democratic Club ), the Brigadier General George P. Scriven House (headquarters to the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century ), and the Phillips Collection , the country's first museum of modern art . The Richard H. Townsend House located on Massachusetts Avenue now houses the Cosmos Club . Across Massachusetts Avenue, the historic Anderson House, owned by the Society of

4017-577: The $ 3,000,000 complex, which was to include a central tower, neoclassical temples, and an auditorium seating 3,000 people. Each building in the complex was meant to represent various Masonic organizations, including the Scottish Rite , Royal Arch Masonry , and Knights Templar . The Masons began a fundraising campaign that lasted until the 1929 stock market crash and start of the Great Depression . The group had announced construction

4120-458: The 1650s, the Province of Maryland experienced an economic boom with the great popularity and demand of one of its cash crops — tobacco . This large expansion necessitated vast areas of land that could be turned into tobacco plantations as the demand was exceedingly high. In 1663, Cecil Calvert , the second Lord of Baltimore, granted Thomas Dent an 850-acre tract of land named Gisborough on

4223-577: The 1870s and 1880s, mansions were built along Massachusetts Avenue, one of Washington's grand avenues, and townhouses were built throughout the neighborhood. In 1872, the British built a new embassy on Connecticut Avenue, at N Street NW. Stewart's Castle was built in 1873 on the north side of the circle, the James G. Blaine Mansion was built on the west side in 1882, and the Leiter House was built on

Oak Lawn (Washington, D.C.) - Misplaced Pages Continue

4326-527: The 19th century, had been reduced to around 10 acres (4 ha). The house was built around 1820 and was greatly expanded in 1873 by Thomas P. Morgan, one half of the eponym of the Adams Morgan neighborhood. A large oak tree, nicknamed the Treaty Oak , was reportedly hundreds of years old and stood just a few yards from the house. Oak Lawn was located on a hill. Due to its expansive views of the city,

4429-650: The Cincinnati, is open daily for tours. The Dumbarton Bridge , also known as the Buffalo Bridge, carries Q Street over Rock Creek Park and into Georgetown and was constructed in 1883. The Nuns of the Battlefield sculpture, which serves as a tribute to over 600 nuns who nursed soldiers of both armies during the Civil War, was erected in 1924. The Mansion on O Street a luxury boutique hotel, private club, events venue and museum has been

4532-515: The District Motor Vehicle Parking Agency said the site would be the first of the city's planned "fringe" parking lots designed to alleviate traffic problems. A bus scheduled to depart the parking lot every six to ten minutes would take commuters to their destinations downtown. But by September 1948 that plan was put on hold after local residents, including occupants of the adjoining Wyoming Apartments , protested

4635-645: The District of Columbia. The tribe was situated along the intersection of two major rivers—the Potomac and the Anacostia —and thus, the majority of Nacotchtank settlements were along the water. The Nacotchtank's principal village, Nachatank, was situated along the eastern bank of the Potomac River on the land of what is now the Bolling Air Force Base . It was here that the Nacotchtank chief

4738-604: The Dupont Circle traffic circle. Source: 2020 decennial Census Dupont Circle is served by the Dupont Circle station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro . There are two entrances: north of the circle at Q Street NW and south of the circle at 19th Street NW. The northern entrance is framed by a quote from Walt Whitman 's 1865 poem, "The Wound-Dresser", that was carved into the entrance in 2007 and echoes

4841-639: The East Coast, trading with various indigenous tribes and eventually taking over the monopoly on the fur trade that the Nacotchtank had for long enjoyed. When the Jesuits arrived in Maryland in 1634, who wanted to adapt church teachings for the natives, Fleet helped by translating the Algonquian language used by the Nacotchtank to English, under the guidance of Governor Leonard Calvert . Beginning in

4944-481: The Nacotchtank along the Potomac River, within what are now Stafford and King George counties of Northern Virginia. Such proximity to one another resulted in long-standing hostility, with the Chief of the Patawomeke referring to the Nacotchtank as their "mortal enemies." As such, the Patawomeck chief not only allied with the colonists, but also helped them in avenging the death of Fleet's party and in attaining corn by providing roughly 40-50 warriors to take part in

5047-437: The Nacotchtank bears the legacy of the latinized version, Anacostine , as seen in the naming of the river which borders eastern D.C., the Anacostia River , or the neighborhood in southeast D.C., Anacostia . The Nacotchtank fell under the larger influence of the Piscataway Chiefdom. The Nacotchtank were not necessarily under complete control of the Piscataway, but rather, the Nacotchtank closely allied with them as they were

5150-399: The Nacotchtank population living on Theodore Roosevelt Island sought refuge in the larger Piscataway tribe of Southern Maryland, whom the Nacotchtank had previously been allied with. With the increased sense of tolerance of indigenous peoples in Pennsylvania, the Piscataway, which the Nacotchtank coalesced with, migrated north and settled on land bordering the lower Susquehanna River around

5253-406: The Nacotchtank traded principally furs, which was readily available given their extensive supply of wild game. The Nacotchtank eventually monopolized the fur trade . The Nacotchtank were first recorded by Captain John Smith , who visited their palisaded village during his First Voyage in 1608, in which he explored the land surrounding the Jamestown settlement of the Colony of Virginia. Between

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5356-435: The Nacotchtank would chip away large chunks of the rock, which would then be taken back to the individual villages, where they would complete formation of whatever artifact they were intending to create. Quartzite, which was relatively-easily chipped and available in a quarry in the Piney Branch area of what is now Northwest Washington, D.C., was used in forming sharp-edged tools, particularly spears and arrow points. Soapstone

5459-464: The Northeastern Woodlands . During the 17th century, the Nacotchtank resided within the present-day borders of Washington, D.C. , along the intersection of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. The Nacotchtank spoke Piscataway , a variant of the Algonquian subfamily spoken by many tribes along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean . This was due to close association and tribute with the nearby Piscataway chiefdom, whose tayac (grand chief) ruled over

5562-464: The Potomac River, which bordered the principal Nacotchtank village. The colony, in such close proximity to the Nacotchtank, now had the leverage to begin encroaching on Nacotchtank territory. Additionally, with the two groups now close to one another and in constant contact, the Europeans from Maryland introduced to the area a number of Eurasian infectious diseases to which the Nacotchtank had no immunity , such as measles, cholera, and smallpox. As

5665-416: The Potomac and thus permitting easy access for traders. Although the proximity of rivers was integral for the Nacotchtank, there is evidence of the Nacotchtank existence further inland, which comes from the findings of archaeologist Samuel Proudfit, who worked for the United States Department of the Interior . Proudfit studied the excavation that was performed when the swimming pool was being constructed in

5768-477: The Treaty Oak which was estimated to be 350–400 years old and was decaying, were felled. By 1956 a new design for the $ 8,000,000 office building was announced. Named the Universal Building (later the Universal South Building), Werner designed it to include the "park at your desk" layout with parking spaces for around 500 vehicles and commercial space on the second floor. Construction of the Universal Building began later that year. Cafritz and Tompkins also announced

5871-454: The Treaty Oak would not be removed. Taking advantage of the gradual decline of the property's terrain, five parking levels for 1,500 cars were to be built along Florida Avenue. On top of the parking structure would be a large terrace. Wright described his project as Usonian and said, " Versailles won't look like much when it is finished." The Crystal Heights project was later cancelled due to local zoning laws regulating building height and

5974-471: The White House, which is relatively inland from any of the Nacotchtank river settlements. Analysis of the terrain that was dug up proved indigenous existence on the site, with findings such as quartzite points, a broken biface, and fragments of broken pottery. According to Proudfit, blades of quartzite that taper off into points on each end are indicative of the Nacotchtank, as they are found commonly in areas of Nacotchtank settlement and rarely in settlements of

6077-419: The circle is maintained by the National Park Service . The central fountain designed by Daniel Chester French provides seating, and long, curved benches around the central area were installed in 1964. The park within the circle is a gathering place for those wishing to play chess on the permanent stone chessboards . Tom Murphy , a homeless championship chess player, was a resident. The park has also been

6180-408: The circle, to separate the through traffic on Massachusetts Avenue from the local traffic, and traffic signals were added. In 1949, traffic tunnels and an underground streetcar station were built under the circle by Capital Transit , the company produced by the consolidation of D.C.'s streetcar lines. The tunnels enabled trams and vehicles traveling along Connecticut Avenue to pass more quickly past

6283-415: The circle. When streetcar service ended in 1962, the entrances to the underground station were closed. The space has since been transformed and reopened as the Dupont Underground art space. The neighborhood declined after World War II and particularly after the 1968 riots , but began to enjoy a resurgence in the 1970s, fueled by urban pioneers seeking an alternative lifestyle. The neighborhood took on

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6386-444: The colonists were killed except for Captain Fleet, who was captured. Held captive for 5 years, Fleet acquired the language and culture of the Nacotchtank. During his time, Fleet observed the trading village Tohoga in present-day Georgetown and noted it as being the center for the monopolized fur trade with the Iroquois . In November 1622, the Nacotchtank faced their first death at the hand of colonial forces. This took place at

6489-431: The current double-tiered white marble fountain replaced the statue. Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, the co-creators of the Lincoln Memorial , designed the fountain, which features carvings of three classical figures symbolizing the sea, the stars and the wind on the fountain's shaft. In 1876, the second house located directly in Dupont Circle was built by a wealthy merchant by the name of William M. Galt. During

6592-407: The dates of June 16 and July 18 of 1608, Smith recorded in his journal, which has since been published as The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles , his impressions of the indigenous peoples of the Potomac River. Specifically speaking of the Nacotchtank, Smith writes that they were a welcoming people who "did their best to content [him]." Smith also noted the presence of

6695-402: The estate was sought after by local developers. The surrounding neighborhoods evolved into bustling residential and commercial areas. However, Oak Lawn remained a wooded, undeveloped tract until the 20th century. In 1922 the land was sold to a Masonic group who wanted to build a large temple complex. However, due to the Great Depression and a lack of funds, the plan was canceled. In 1940,

6798-434: The hotel was almost complete in 1965, the design was praised by local architectural critic Wolf Von Eckardt . In addition to the Universal South Building, Universal North Building, and Washington Hilton, there are three buildings on the former Oak Lawn estate. A small commercial building at 1835 Connecticut Avenue NW, between the two larger office buildings, was constructed in 1968. A former theater at 1929 Florida Avenue NW

6901-445: The house into a large and impressive four-story Second Empire -style building which included a large wing in the rear. Morgan renamed the property Oak Lawn due to the large oak tree that stood a few yards from his house. The tree, nicknamed Treaty Oak , was estimated to be a few hundred years old at the time. There were legends about the tree, the most well known being it was the site of a treaty between early settlers and members of

7004-404: The land, and it was later granted to James Holmead on July 8, 1725. At the time Widow's Mite was said to be shaped like a parallelogram with its boundaries extending from around north of the Old Naval Observatory to present-day Florida Avenue , 17th Street, and Rock Creek Park . The Holmead family owned the land for several decades and when the City of Washington was laid out, Widow's Mite

7107-563: The local Nacotchtank tribe. One year after his new house was complete, Morgan sold Oak Lawn to Edward C. Dean, a businessman who served as president of the Potomac Terra Cotta Company. The property was also called Dean's Estate after he acquired it. After he died in 1899, Dean's widow, Amanda, continued to live on the estate. By the early 1900s, the Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan neighborhoods were highly developed areas with commercial properties and large apartment buildings lining Connecticut Avenue and rows of middle and upper-class houses on

7210-415: The local languages and replaced them with sounds that were easier to pronounce and to which they were more familiar. As a result, the English settlers that were interacting with the Nacotchtank would not pronounce the "-tchtank" and would replace it with the ending "-stine," which was easier to enunciate. Through transmission of the mispronounced Nacotchtank name amongst English settlers, the Nacotchtank name

7313-441: The location of political rallies, such as those supporting gay rights and those protesting the 2003 invasion of Iraq , the World Bank , and the International Monetary Fund . In 1999, Thelma Billy was arrested handing out Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless. In 2009, a tug of war was sponsored by the Washington Project for the Arts . In 2014, the city proposed to turn an 850-square-foot (79 m ) concrete sidewalk on

7416-653: The nearby tribes. Additionally, Proudfit posits that fragmented pottery is "one of the unfailing evidences of permanent aboriginal occupation." This theory of pottery as a marker for permanent occupation was used in Proudfit's mapping of another Nacotchtank village north of Garfield Park on what is now Capitol Hill . The Nacotchtank utilized this land, which now houses the Supreme Court and Library of Congress , for agriculture, growing corn , beans , and squash. The Nacotchtank settled on this specific area as it

7519-457: The north side in 1893. By the 1920s, Connecticut Avenue was more commercial in character, with numerous shops. Some residences, including Senator Philetus Sawyer 's mansion at Connecticut and R Street, were demolished to make way for office buildings and shops. The Patterson House, at 15 Dupont Circle, served as a temporary residence for President Calvin Coolidge while the actual White House

7622-589: The only survivor of the many mansions that once ringed the circle, was built in 1901 by New York architect Stanford White for Robert Patterson , editor of the Chicago Tribune , and his wife Nellie, heiress to the Chicago Tribune fortune. Upon Mrs. Patterson's incapacitation in the early 1920s, the house passed into the hands of her daughter, Cissy Patterson , who made it a hub of Washington social life. The house served as temporary quarters for President and Mrs.  Calvin Coolidge in 1927 while

7725-625: The principal village followed a particular pattern of settlement called dispersed settlement . In this pattern, there would be rather-isolated dwellings with large open fields in between them. The resultant community would have groupings of between 2 and 100 dwellings clustered together, with a shared, designated spot that would have fallen trees that were to be used for fire-burning. In between these clusters were plots of land, ranging from between 20 and 100 acres, which would be used in cultivating various plants and crops. The Nacotchtank lived in wigwams —which were dome-shaped huts—and longhouses , as

7828-524: The project. In 1949 the Cafritz and Tompkins companies offered the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization 35,000 square feet (3,252 sq m) of land, valued at $ 350,000, for the agency to build their headquarters on the site. The agency was offered the site for free as long as they started to build their headquarters at some point the following year. That offer was rejected and plans for

7931-473: The property that had been home to the old estate. The land where Oak Lawn stood was originally called Widow's Mite. The first known owner was James Langworth from Charles County, Maryland , who acquired the property on August 18, 1660. Family members of his son, William, later sold the 600 acre (243 ha) land inheritance containing Widow's Mite to John Bowling. His family sold the land to Thomas Fletchell after Bowling's death. Fletchell's son, Thomas, inherited

8034-565: The remaining portion of the Oak Lawn site would be developed as part of a $ 25,000,000 project, to include a $ 15,000,000 1,000-room hotel on the hill overlooking the city, a large parking garage for hotel guests, and two $ 5,000,000 office buildings. The Oak Lawn property was sold to Percy Uris by 1961. The new hotel, designed by William B. Tabler , was developed by the Uris Buildings Corporation . The original design of

8137-535: The rivers to occupy fertile and flat land and grow a variety of crop species, most of which belonged to the Three Sisters family—corn, beans, and squash. Since the Nacotchtank had abundant natural resources and were situated where two rivers met, they held an epicenter for a bustling trade network with neighboring tribes. One known intertribal network was with the Haudenosaunee of New York, in which

8240-542: The smaller tribes that belonged to the Piscataway Chiefdom. These lower-ranked chiefs were known as werences (also known as werowances/weroances) . The Nacotchtank werence would collect and pay tribute to the Piscataway tayac who resided in a village named Mayone in present-day Prince Georges County of Maryland, 15 miles south of the Nacotchtank land base. The tribe's physical location, which had

8343-676: The south side of the traffic circle into a "kinetic park". Previously occupied by bike lockers, the parklet was repaved with 100 PaveGen pavers, which generate electricity when people walk on them. Designers ZGF Architects said the project would rebuild the sidewalk and curbs and add seven granite benches, six bollard bicycle racks, and two flower beds. The pavers were expected to "generate 456.25 kilowatts of energy [ sic ] annually", according to Washington Business Journal , and power lights under each bench. The $ 300,000 project opened in November 2016. The Dupont Circle neighborhood

8446-488: The statue was sculpted by Launt Thompson , and the circle was landscaped with exotic flowers and ornamental trees. Several prominent duPont family members deemed it too insignificant to honor their ancestor, so they secured permission to move the statue to Rockford Park in Wilmington in 1917, and commissioned Henry Bacon and Daniel Chester French to design the fountain that sits in Dupont Circle today. In 1920,

8549-412: The store ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial. Gentrification accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, and the area is now a more mainstream and trendy location with coffeehouses , restaurants, bars, fast casual food, and upscale retail stores. Since 1997, a weekly farmers market has operated on 20th Street NW. The area's rowhouses , primarily built before 1900, feature variations on

8652-413: The structure. The new building was to be designed similarly and include around 600 parking spaces. Cafritz and Tompkins also planned on constructing an additional office building and hotel. At the time, the previous 10-acre site had been reduced to around 7.5 acres (3 ha) after T Street was extended through the property. While preparing the site for construction, the remaining trees on Oak Lawn, including

8755-546: The surrounding streets. In 1921 the Woman's National Foundation wanted to buy the property and build a clubhouse there, but they were unsuccessful. For several years a Masonic group had been looking for a site to build a large temple complex. The group purchased Oak Lawn in 1922 for $ 900,000, a significant amount of money at the time, and the property was nicknamed Temple Heights or Temple Hill for many years. Architects James R. Marshall and Frank G. Pierson were hired to design

8858-726: The time of the Second Anglo-Powhatan War , a battle between English colonists and the Powhatan Confederacy. One tribe that the colonists closely allied with during this time was the Patawomeke (or Patawomeck ). Though the Patawomeke were initially part of the Powhatan Confederacy, they were large enough so that they could lose such affiliation and side with the colonists. The Patawomeke, an Algonquian-speaking people, were established across from

8961-454: The view of hotel guests. The final design was the hotel being shaped similar to the number 3. Due to the strict height limits for buildings in Washington, D.C., construction of the 12-story hotel included the city's largest excavation project. More hotel space was built underground than above ground. The 500,000 square feet (46,452 m) underground space includes a large ballroom, meeting rooms, concourse, kitchens, and garage. As construction of

9064-415: The werence (subordinate Chief to the tayac), close kin, priests, and councilors. Here, the werence would store tribute, oftentimes corn and hides, from surrounding villagers. The abode of the werence and all religious buildings within the main village were protected by a palisade , and there were approximately 80 warriors contained within the village. The structure of the Nacotchtank occupation outside of

9167-447: The wooded area and local officials objected to losing property tax revenue if the memorial was built. The following year new plans were made that included a hotel on the northern end of the Oak Lawn estate and a commercial building with offices, a theater, parking garage, and retail space on the southern end. The $ 20,000,000 project required approval from local officials to reclassify the southern end from residential to commercial. There

9270-418: The year 1700. Though the Nacotchtank were absorbed by the Piscataway and relocated north, some aspects of Washington, D.C., are named after them. The river surrounding the eastern border of the city and the neighborhood in southeast, D.C., are named "Anacostia" after the latinized version of Nacotchtank. The entirety of the Nacotchtank tribe, prior to colonization, was situated within the modern borders of

9373-525: Was accessed mainly through the Rose Hill quarry of what is now Northwest Washington, D.C., and was utilized in producing various vessels such as bowls and pipes. There is also evidence of the Nacotchtank producing pottery, which has been found in fragments in an excavation of the terrain under the White House. The Carolina Dog was the only domesticated animal that lived among the Nacotchtank and

9476-458: Was also the requirement to widen Florida Avenue, creating a T Street extension that would connect 19th Street and Connecticut Avenue and build retaining walls. Plans for the project later changed, and in 1948, it was announced that a large shopping center, movie theater, and retail space would be built on the site. In preparation for the construction of this project, in April 1948, the Oak Lawn house

9579-482: Was being repaired in 1927. In 1933, the National Park Service took over administering the circle, and added sandboxes for children, though these were removed a few years later. Connecticut Avenue was widened in the late 1920s, and increased traffic in the neighborhood caused a great deal of congestion in the circle, making it difficult for pedestrians to get around. Medians were installed in 1948, in

9682-447: Was built in 1963 and adjoins the Universal North Building. A luxury apartment building, The Hepburn, was constructed in 2016 and designed by Cecconi Simone. The Hepburn is located next to the hotel, and much like the hotel rooms, its apartments include expansive views of the city. 38°54′59″N 77°02′41″W  /  38.916275°N 77.044703°W  / 38.916275; -77.044703 Dupont Circle The traffic circle

9785-506: Was demolished by the General Wrecking Company. When the house was demolished, it was described as containing expensive mahogany woodwork, ornate fireplaces, gas light fixtures, and a 1,000-gallon water tank on the third floor. The lumber, bricks, and fixtures were later sold. Later that month, a new plan was announced for the estate, which included building a parking lot for 450 vehicles on the property. The chairman of

9888-466: Was flat and much more suitable for agriculture than the uneven land bordering the rivers on which they were initially established. The smooth terrain allowed the Nacotchtank to grow the large stores of corn that were appealing to European colonists. With the Nacotchtank's under the loose confederacy of the Piscataway Chiefdom, the Nacotchtank spoke the Piscataway language. The Piscataway language

9991-498: Was left behind after battle and disease was absorbed into the Piscataway. In his 1608 expedition, English explorer John Smith noted the prosperity of the Nacotchtank and their great supply of various resources. Various pieces of art and other cultural artifacts, including hair combs, pendants, pottery, and dog bones, have been found in excavations throughout Washington, D.C., on Nacotchtank territory. The name Nacotchtank (and variants Anaquashtank , Nacothtant , or Nachatanke )

10094-601: Was noted as residing, along with 80 others, in Smith's journal. Smith summarized his findings in his "Map of Virginia," which plotted the principal village of the Nacotchtank in 1608. In addition to the principal village, there were multiple smaller villages, as observed by Fleet in his time held captive. Fleet mentioned four of these villages: Tohoga , Mosticum , Shaunetowa , and Usserahak . Various excavations have been performed throughout Washington D.C., which point to more specific areas of Nacotchtank villages. For example,

10197-468: Was offered for 109,964 square feet (10,216 sq m) of land at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Florida Avenue, but the offer was turned down. In August 1940, the wooded estate, described as "the last great undeveloped piece of property close to the center of the downtown area", was purchased by a syndicate led by developer Roy C. Thurman, despite continued calls for the land to become a public park. Thurman hired noted architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design

10300-460: Was only a 16-acre (6.5 ha) estate. Holmead sold the property to Colonel Michael Nourse, who built the Federal -style estate house around 1820. Due to complaints from his children and the long commute to work, Nourse sold the property in 1835. It was later acquired by businessman and politician Thomas P. Morgan, who served as superintendent of police and city commissioner and is half the namesake of

10403-408: Was slowly faded out and replaced with Nacostine. Later on, the Jesuits from the Province of Maryland further latinized the term by attaching a prefix "A" to "Nacostine," creating the name Anacostine. Etymologically, keeping the "A" is indeed a closer derivation of the term "anaquashtank," but the Nacotchtank preferred to omit prefixes and suffixes from words. Any present cultural honoring of

10506-568: Was to begin on the first building in October 1929 after having raised $ 2,000,000. However, due to the economic downturn, the plan was canceled. The property mostly remained untouched for the next decade, except for an occasional meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star in the Oak Lawn house. Congress considered purchasing part of the estate in 1936 to turn into a public park. Over $ 300,000

10609-497: Was typical of other tribes along the East Coast . The villages also had menstrual huts, which women would visit when menstruating, and communal sweat houses, where those who were sick could visit and be healed. Two types of rock were readily available in Nacotchtank territory for their use— quartzite and soapstone . These two types of rock were available in various quarries throughout Nacotchtank territory. At these quarries,

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