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Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District

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The Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District is a neighborhood and historic district located in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The boundaries of the historic district include Rock Creek Park to the north and west, P Street to the south, and 22nd Street and Florida Avenue to the east. On the southwestern edge of the neighborhood is a stretch of Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue . The other neighborhood and historic district that lies to the east of Sheridan-Kalorama is Kalorama Triangle Historic District . The two neighborhoods are divided by Connecticut Avenue . For many years both neighborhoods were geographically connected before the stretch of Connecticut Avenue was installed toward the Taft Bridge . Oftentimes, both neighborhoods are simply called "Kalorama" or " Kalorama Heights ".

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104-698: There are two traffic circles in Sheridan-Kalorama: Kalorama Circle and Sheridan Circle . The latter is a park centered on the equestrian statue of General Philip Sheridan . The name "Kalorama" means "fine view" in Greek . There are several parks in Sheridan-Kalorama, including Mitchell Park and the Ukrainian Independence Park . A large number of buildings and sites in the neighborhood are listed on

208-529: A 600 acres (240 ha) tract of land in 1663 by Charles II of England . The tract was later called Widow's Mite and owned by the Anthony Holmead family at some point in the late 18th or early 19th century. The land was located outside the boundaries of the District of Columbia, and was a part of Maryland for many years. Anthony Holmead II emigrated from England to the U.S., to take possession of

312-432: A bridge would be built on Massachusetts Avenue crossing Rock Creek. Despite this, houses were not being constructed at the expected pace. Kalorama Triangle grew before Sheridan-Kalorama, thanks to the two streetcar lines commuters could ride. Extending Connecticut Avenue north of Boundary Street to a planned bridge crossing Rock Creek divided Kalorama Triangle from Sheridan-Kalorama, then known as Kalorama Heights. The latter

416-566: A few new buildings constructed in the neighborhood during the late 20th-century, including rowhouses that were demolished and replaced with modern buildings. To stop further demolition in the neighborhood, historic preservationists worked with local officials to create the Kalorama Triangle Historic District, which was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) on April 27, 1987, and

520-579: A husband, wife, children, and one servant, or sometimes more servants depending on the house size. This changed within several years due to large houses being built that required multiple servants. Amongst the people living in the neighborhood were diplomats, members of Congress , lawyers, journalists, and military officers. Several houses built in the 1880s and 1890s were demolished and replaced with grander residences. Some of these buildings torn down were previously owned by noted figures, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes and Speaker of

624-538: A large hospital for the Veteran Reserve Corps and captive Confederate Army soldiers in 1862. One civilian who would make frequent visits to the hospital was Walt Whitman , sitting with and talking to wounded soldiers. When Little died in 1876, his reported $ 1 million estate was left to his five daughters, including valuable land they later sold. In the last few decades of the 19th-century, Representative John B. Alley and Senator Lyman R. Casey owned

728-462: A neighborhood to the east, became a fashionable residential area in the 1880s. Development past the Dupont Circle boundaries began that same decade, and by 1887, the lots along Massachusetts Avenue had been plotted. Soon, there were large residences being built along the avenue towards Decatur Circle. In the 1890s, the city's boundary was extended past Rock Creek, but city officials had to build

832-537: A new bridge over the creek and pave Massachusetts Avenue before further development could occur. The stone bridge that carried people and goods over Rock Creek on Massachusetts Avenue was replaced with an iron bridge in 1901, which was also replaced in the 1940s and named the Charles C. Glover Memorial Bridge . The large residences built along Massachusetts Avenue were designed by prominent architects from Washington, D.C., as well as ones from other major cities. Most of

936-417: A stone bridge was installed carrying Massachusetts Avenue over Rock Creek. That bridge was later replaced in the early 1940's with the current Charles C. Glover Memorial Bridge . While Kalorama Triangle catered to the middle-class with rowhouses and apartment buildings, Sheridan-Kalorama included apartment buildings, large stand-alone houses, places of worship, schools, and embassies. Land in Sheridan-Kalorama

1040-514: A trip to Europe, and his widow, Ruth, continued living in their house with her sister and brother-in-law Colonel George Bomford . After Ruth's death, the property was passed on to her brother, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Henry Baldwin . Bomford bought the property and some of the surrounding land, owning it until 1846. The next owner of Kalorama, Thomas R. Lovett, purchased the property for his mother. At this time,

1144-641: Is Jeff Bezos who bought adjoining buildings on the 2300 block of S Street. His property, purchased in 2017 for $ 23 million, is the largest house in Washington, D.C. Many of the historic landmarks and contributing properties in Sheridan-Kalorama are also included in the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District . In addition to the aforementioned Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District, added to the DCIHS on September 25, 1989, and

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1248-616: Is a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District and the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). In addition, the equestrian statue of General Philip Sheridan is 1 of 18 Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. , that were collectively listed on the NRHP. The area around Sheridan Circle did not develop until

1352-440: Is a mostly residential neighborhood and a historic district in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The entire Kalorama Triangle neighborhood was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1987. In addition to individually listed landmarks in the neighborhood, the district is home to roughly 350 contributing properties . The neighborhood

1456-555: Is a small monument by the circle in honor of the two victims. The other violent moment took place in 2017 when clashes broke out between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) supporters and Kurdish separatists who were protesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan . The protesters and reporters were beaten by Erdoğan's security detail. The victims later opened a civil case against the Turkish government. Sheridan Circle,

1560-541: Is on the east side of the circle at 2223 Massachusetts Avenue NW. On September 21, 1976, Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt were killed by a car bomb in the circle. Letelier had been foreign minister in the ousted Allende government of Chile . The bombing was blamed on Chilean DINA agents. Michael Townley , a DINA U.S. expatriate among those convicted for the crime, confessed that he had hired five anti- Castro Cuban exiles to booby-trap Letelier's car. According to Jean-Guy Allard, after consultations with

1664-567: Is roughly bounded by Connecticut Avenue to the west, Columbia Road to the east, and Calvert Street on the north. The area was originally home to the Nacotchtank and Mattawoman tribes until the 17th-century when tracts of land were granted by Charles II of England . Land was deeded and tracts split until the present-day neighborhood was a tract named Widow's Mite. The tract was renamed to Kalorama, which means "nice view" in Greek , in 1807. The tract included not only Kalorama Triangle, but

1768-410: Is sometimes referred to as part of Adams Morgan or the larger Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District , located on the west side of Connecticut Avenue. Due to the geographic and street alignment, Kalorama Triangle developed into a neighborhood of its own. The neighborhood is somewhat insulated by the surrounding commercial areas and features quiet, suburban-like streets in its interior. The western edge of

1872-521: Is the Greek embassy ; the Emma S. Fitzhugh House , designed by Wood, Donn & Deming , is the ambassadorial residence for the Philippines ; and 2249 R Street NW, designed by Nathan C. Wyeth , is the ambassadorial residence for Kenya . Additional countries who own buildings on the circle include South Korea (consular section) and Vietnam . The American Society of International Law 's headquarters

1976-616: The Cubana bombing two weeks later. Letelier and Moffitt are commemorated with a small plaque embedded in the grass along the curb where they died, near the Irish and Romanian embassies. In 2023, Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the memorial site where he placed flowers. On May 16, 2017, dozens of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) supporters and Kurdish separatists clashed with Turkish security officials at Sheridan Circle. Turkish security personnel beat journalists and protesters during

2080-534: The Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations leadership (including Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch ), those selected to carry out the murder were Cuban Americans José Dionisio Suárez, Virgilio Paz Romero , Alvin Ross Díaz, and brothers Guillermo and Ignacio Novo Sampoll. According to news reports, Luis Posada Carriles was at the meeting that decided on Letelier's death and also about

2184-544: The Duke Ellington Bridge , replaced an older one that carried Calvert Street west over Rock Creek Park, giving access to Woodley Park and other neighborhoods further north and west. There were mostly small commercial properties built along Columbia Road and Calvert Street during the 1930s, which were the last undeveloped lots in the Kalorama Triangle. Because of the somewhat rapid development of

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2288-992: The Edward Hamlin Everett House at 1606 23rd Street NW; the Gibson Fahnestock House at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW; The Farnsboro at 2129 Florida Avenue NW; the Emma S. Fitzhuh House at 2253 R Street NW; the Florence Court at 2153/2205 California Street NW; the French ambassadorial residence at 2221 Kalorama Road; the Henrietta M. Halliday House at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW;, the Christian Hauge House at 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW; The Highlands at 1914 Connecticut Avenue NW; The Hightowers at 2000 Connecticut Avenue NW;

2392-598: The Embassy of Armenia ; the Embassy of the Bahamas ; the Embassy of Barbados ; the Embassy of Belize ; the Embassy of Benin ; the Embassy of Bulgaria ; the Embassy of Burkina Faso ; the Embassy of Cameroon ; the Embassy of Costa Rica ; the Embassy of Cote d'Ivoire ; the Embassy of Croatia ; the Embassy of Cyprus ; the Embassy of the Dominican Republic ; the Embassy of Estonia ; the Embassy of Greece ;

2496-458: The Embassy of Guatemala ; the Embassy of Guinea ; the Embassy of Guyana ; the Embassy of Haiti ; the Embassy of Ireland ; the Embassy of Japan ; the Embassy of Kenya ; the Embassy of South Korea ; the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan ; the Embassy of Laos ; the Embassy of Latvia ; the Embassy of Lesotho ; the Embassy of Luxembourg ; the Embassy of Madagascar; the Embassy of Mali ; the Embassy of

2600-553: The Embassy of Syria has been suspended since 2014. Sheridan Circle Sheridan Circle is a traffic circle and park in the Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The traffic circle, one of two in the neighborhood, is the intersection of 23rd Street NW, Massachusetts Avenue NW , and R Street NW. The buildings along this stretch of Massachusetts Avenue NW are part of Embassy Row , which runs from Scott Circle to Observatory Circle . Sheridan Circle

2704-674: The Frances Perkins House . Significant contributing properties in Sheridan-Kalorama include the following: The Army and Navy at 2540 Massachusetts Avenue NW; the Church of the Pilgrims at 2201 P Street NW; The Decatur at 2131 Florida Avenue NW; the Diplomatic Apartments at 2500 Massachusetts Avenue NW; The Dresden at 2126 Connecticut Avenue NW; the Embassy of Thailand 's Consular Section at 2300 Kalorama Road;

2808-461: The Fuller House on Ashmead Place. The Taft Bridge, allowing Connecticut Avenue to cross Rock Creek Park, was the world's largest concrete bridge when completed. It led to further development in Kalorama Triangle and neighborhoods north of the bridge. By the first few years in the 1900s, all remaining lots had been subdivided. With the widening and northward placement of Connecticut Avenue,

2912-955: The Indian Consulate at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW; the Islamic Center of Washington at 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW, the apartment building at 2120 Kalorama Road NW; the Embassy of Malaysia's chancery at 2401 S Street NW; the Miller House at 2201 Massachusetts Avenue NW; the headquarters of the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists at 2205 Massachusetts Avenue ; the Mrs. Francis B. Moran House at 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW; Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church at 1820 Connecticut Avenue NW; The Saint Regis at 2219 California Street NW;

3016-791: The Landon School , the Holton-Arms School , the Potomac School , and the Maret School , all of which have since relocated or closed. Places of worship in the neighborhood that were built in the late 19th century and 20th century include St. Margaret's Episcopal Church , the Church of the Pilgrims , the Friends Meeting House , the Fazl Mosque and the imposing Islamic Center of Washington . As

3120-432: The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS). Four of these buildings are National Historic Landmarks and over 600 structures are contributing properties to the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District, which was listed on the NRHP and DCIHS in 1989. The original inhabitants of present-day Sheridan-Kalorama were the Nacotchtank and Mattawoman tribes. During

3224-1128: The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on May 4, 1987. Additional buildings and sites added to the DCIHS and NRHP include the Fuller House, the Lothrop Mansion, the Kalorama Park and Archeological District, and the statue of George B. McClellan . The Woodward at 2311 Connecticut Avenue was listed on the DCIHS in 1964. Additional buildings in the historic district that are some of the 352 contributing properties include The Mendota (1901), The Woodley (1903), The Baltimore (1905), The Cliffbourne (1905), The Sterling (1905), The Knickerbocker (1909), The Airy View (1910), The Beacon (1910), The Biltmore (1913), The Altamont (1915), 2029 Connecticut Avenue (1915), The Carthage (1919), Park Crest (1922), The Melwood (1926), The Valley Vista (1927), 2101 Connecticut Avenue (1927), and The Mintwood (1929) Buildings that are not designated contributing properties include 36 buildings and 1 site. Examples include

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3328-548: The Spanish Steps at 22nd Street and Decatur Place; the Wendell Mansions at 2339 Massachusetts Avenue NW; The Westmoreland at 2122 California Street NW; the Mrs. Sarah S. Wyeth House at 2305 Massachusetts Avenue NW; and the Embassy of Slovenia at 2410 California Street NW. Diplomatic buildings, including dozens of embassies, in the Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood include the following: the Embassy of Algeria ;

3432-811: The Washington and Georgetown Railroad in 1895 to form the Capital Traction Company . Despite the new bridge and widening of Columbia Road, real estate development was somewhat slow in Kalorama Triangle until the 1890s. This was due in part to the Panic of 1893 and Highway Act of 1893, which required L'Enfant Plan street layouts to be followed in the former Washington County. After an exemption for existing neighborhoods began in 1898, development occurred quickly in Kalorama Triangle. Installation of streetcar lines built along Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road also spurred development. Around

3536-803: The equestrian statue of Philip Sheridan (1 of 18 Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. that were collectively listed on the DCIHS and NRHP); and the Tucker House and Myers House (previously home to the Textile Museum ). There are 4 National Historic Landmarks in the neighborhood: the Charles Evans Hughes House ; the Woodrow Wilson House ; the William E. Borah Apartment at the Windsor Lodge; and

3640-459: The 17th century, Sheridan-Kalorama was part of a large estate, named Widow's Mite. Various portions of the land were sold throughout the years, and a large house built in the area was named Belair. The house was renamed Kalorama by Joel Barlow in the early 19th century. The house was commandeered during the Civil War and caught fire in 1865. Due to a sharp increase of the city's population after

3744-508: The 1880s-1890s. Local officials extended Massachusetts Avenue NW past what was then the city's boundary, now Florida Avenue , in hopes of recreating the residential success of Dupont Circle . The Sheridan-Kalorama area was previously home to large estates and country homes. These lands were eventually sold and the traffic circle's name was changed from Decatur Circle, in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur , to Sheridan Circle, in honor of Civil War General Philip Sheridan . It took many years for

3848-478: The 1950s. Some of the embassies and ambassadorial residences facing Sheridan Circle include Romania, Ireland, Greece, Vietnam, Kenya, Egypt, South Korea, Latvia, and Turkey. Two violent moments that occurred at Sheridan Circle were the assassination of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt by Chile's Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional . Those that took part in the car bomb attack were Cuban expatriates who supported Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet . There

3952-441: The 20th century progressed, many of the neighborhood's houses were sold to foreign governments. The British embassy relocated from Dupont Circle to a lot along Massachusetts Avenue, northwest of Sheridan-Kalorama. The first nation to buy a lot for an embassy or ambassadorial residence in Sheridan-Kalorama was France, when it purchased land on S Street between 22nd and 23rd Streets. Up until that time, there were only four embassies in

4056-506: The Civil War hero whose statue stands in the middle of the circle. Thus, the first half of the neighborhood's name was changed. Sheridan-Kalorama had become a distinct neighborhood, with subtle differences between Dupont Circle, including house sizes, and commercial developments. The only commercial building in Sheridan-Kalorama is 2160-2162 California Street. By 1914, the neighborhood included scores of new houses, representing 45 percent of

4160-513: The Cliffbourne estate. The last owner, inventor Marion C. Stone, died in 1899, the same year the Cliffbourne house was demolished. When the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871 came into law, it extended the boundaries of the City of Washington to the present District of Columbia. Florida Avenue , originally known as Boundary Street, was just a few blocks south of Kalorama Triangle. Once

4264-551: The DCIHS on March 3, 1979. In the years following World War I , there was an explosion in growth of new buildings in the area. Many prominent local and national architects designed palatial residences around Sheridan Circle. During the Great Depression , many of the local residences were sold to foreign nations or various groups. After World War II ended, many of the area residences were renovated into embassies, ambassadorial residences, and attachés. Examples include

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4368-515: The Holmeads were still neighbors living on the adjoining property to the east. Kalorama was commandeered by the Union Army during the Civil War and used as a smallpox hospital. This continued until 1865 when a fire destroyed the house. The site where Kalorama once stood is now Mitchell Park. After the war ended, there was a large increase of people moving to Washington, D.C., and with them

4472-638: The House of Representatives Champ Clark . Many of the neighborhood's rowhouses located near Connecticut Avenue were demolished and replaced with large apartment buildings. Throughout the neighborhood, new houses were often designed in the Colonial Revival style. Additional architectural styles popular during the neighborhood's growth include Federal , Georgian Revival , Beaux-Arts , Romanesque Revival , and Mediterranean Revival . By this time, Decatur Circle had been renamed Sheridan Circle, in honor of

4576-518: The Marshall Islands ; the Embassy of Mauritania ; the Embassy of Moldova ; the Embassy of Niger ; the Embassy of North Macedonia ; the Embassy of Paraguay ; the Embassy of Romania ; the Embassy of Slovenia ; the Embassy of Togo ; the Embassy of Turkey ; the Embassy of Turkmenistan ; the Embassy of Yemen; and the Embassy of Zambia . The Embassy of Afghanistan closed in March 2022 and

4680-878: The NRHP on October 30, 1989, there are numerous historic landmarks throughout the neighborhood. Ones listed on the NRHP and DCIHS include the following: Alice Pike Barney Studio House ; the Joseph Beale House ; the Codman-Davis House ; the Meeting House of the Friends Meeting of Washington ; the Anthony Holmead Archeological Site ; the Embassy of Japan ; The Lindens (disassembled in Massachusetts and reassembled in Sheridan-Kalorama from 1935-1938);

4784-476: The apartment buildings were luxurious and designed by the city's noted architects. Large apartment buildings including The Altamont, 2029 Connecticut Avenue, 2101 Connecticut Avenue , 2301 Connecticut Avenue, and The Woodward at 2311 Connecticut Avenue, were built along the neighborhoods major routes and catered to the upper middle class. During the 1930s, the Calvert Street Bridge, later renamed

4888-651: The area now known as the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District . The two neighborhoods were eventually divided by Connecticut Avenue , which runs north from Dupont Circle to Woodley Park via the Taft Bridge . The two neighborhoods are still sometimes referred to together as " Kalorama Heights ". For many years Kalorama Triangle was only inhabited by a few families living in large suburban-like houses. When streetcars were installed on Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road, development of

4992-494: The building sizes, the majority of Sheridan-Kalorama residents lived in apartment buildings by World War I . By 1940, there were 30 apartment buildings in Sheridan-Kalorama. Examples include the first apartment building constructed in the neighborhood, The Highlands , in addition to The Dresden , the St Nicholas, and Windsor Lodge . In addition to residential buildings, there were also schools, including The Field School ,

5096-413: The circle. A statue to honor General Sheridan was originally proposed to stand on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue NW near 13th Street NW, at what is now Freedom Plaza . Sheridan's widow advocated to erect the statue at Sheridan Circle instead, with which the statue commission agreed. John Quincy Adams Ward was selected to sculpt the statue. Mrs. Sheridan rejected his original model, saying it

5200-418: The city's Reservation 57A, is the intersection of 23rd Street NW, Massachusetts Avenue NW , and R Street NW, in the Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is one of two traffic circles in the neighborhood, the other being Kalorama Circle. The circle and its surrounding buildings are contributing properties to two historic districts . The first one, Massachusetts Avenue Historic District ,

5304-399: The city's boundary. Local government officials announced in 1886 that development would be expanded beyond Boundary Street (renamed Florida Avenue in 1890). The plan was to extend Massachusetts Avenue NW northward past Rock Creek . Two traffic circles were also planned in the extension and most of the surrounding area was to be plotted and have streets laid out within a year. The land that

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5408-464: The city, as most countries rented space in existing buildings. Germany purchased land on what is now Mitchell Park, across the street from the French. This made for awkward relations during World War I, which may be why neither country built anything and sold the properties. Other countries though began purchasing the neighborhood's residences. The first purpose-built embassy constructed in the neighborhood

5512-541: The conversion of houses into these buildings, continued into the late 20th century. Most neighborhood citizens did not mind the presence of the embassies, but they were wary of how many other diplomatic offices and cultural centers were buying so many properties. Due to pressure from Sheridan-Kalorama residents in the 1980s, the local government set aside 47 acres (19 ha) for embassies to be built in North Cleveland Park . After four years of attempts to have

5616-429: The early 20th century permanently changed the character of the neighborhood. Estates spread out over the Sheridan-Kalorama area were purchased, the land plotted, and new suburban-like homes were built. The two neighborhoods partially sharing the same name were divided due to changes in the road layout. By 1900, there were 114 structures in the neighborhood, representing almost 20 percent of houses that remain today. In 1901,

5720-403: The early 21st century, there was continued development of some embassy buildings. The former apartment building, St. Alban's, had been purchased by China in the 1970s. It was demolished, except for one historic wall, and replaced with an apartment building for Chinese embassy staff. Sheridan-Kalorama has always been home to wealthy people and prominent officials, including several presidents, with

5824-447: The east of his former land. The new owner, Gustavus Scott, called his estate Belair, but overspent while trying to improve the estate. He sold two portion of his land, which soon became the site of a paper mill and grist mill. Scott died in 1803 and the next owner of Belair was politician William Augustine Washington , nephew of George Washington . He only owned the land for a few years before selling it to poet Joel Barlow , who renamed

5928-426: The easy access to restaurants and Washington Metro stations are the major factors for people living in the neighborhood. Kalorama Triangle is a mostly residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C. 's northwest quadrant . The area of the neighborhood is approximately 51 acres (21 ha). The surrounding neighborhoods are Adams Morgan to the north and east, Dupont Circle to the south, and Sheridan-Kalorama to

6032-567: The equestrian statue of Sheridan to be created, and the dedication of the memorial took place in 1908. By that time, houses were being built around the circle, including the first one, the Alice Pike Barney Studio House . The remaining homes around the circle were elaborate mansions, designed by some of the top local and national architects. During the Great Depression , some of the residences were sold to foreign countries. This occurred again after World War II and into

6136-466: The estate Kalorama, which means "fine view" in Greek . Barlow improved the estate and built a second house on the highest portion of his land. The original house was renovated and expanded following the designs of Barlow's friend, Benjamin Henry Latrobe . Barlow had many influential people visit his estate, including President Thomas Jefferson and inventor Robert Fulton . Barlow died while on

6240-416: The extant buildings. The last of the rowhouses typically found in other local neighborhoods, 2224-2238 Decatur Place, were built in 1904. The remaining rowhouses built in the 1900s were much larger and more ornate. A movement to building larger houses or apartment buildings became popular during the early 20th century. During the 1900s, there were seven apartment buildings constructed in the neighborhood. Due to

6344-595: The following: the Edward Hamlin Everett House , designed by George Oakley Totten Jr. , is the ambassadorial residence for Turkey ; the mansion at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, designed by William Penn Cresson , is the Irish embassy ; the mansion at 1607 23rd Street NW, designed by Carrère and Hastings , is the Romanian embassy ; the Joseph Beale House , designed by Glenn Brown , is the ambassadorial residence for Egypt ; 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, designed by Totten Jr.,

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6448-475: The historic district, which was added to the DCIHS and NRHP in 1987. Before then, there were already three landmarks on the NRHP, including the Lothrop Mansion , the Fuller House , and the equestrian statue of George B. McClellan . The neighborhood is now considered a suburban-like oasis in a busy area of the city. The cohesiveness of the buildings, the quiet streets, the diversity of the population, and

6552-401: The homes built in the early 20th century were rowhouses, including over 100 built between 1902-1905. A house and statue completed in the 1900s formed the southern boundary of the neighborhood. The Beaux-Arts style Lothrop Mansion was constructed in 1908 and replaced an earlier house. The other southern boundary marker of the neighborhood is the equestrian statue of George B. McClellan , which

6656-449: The houses throughout the neighborhood were converted into embassies or ambassadorial residences, a trend that continued for several decades. There was an influx of temporary residents during World War II , but the neighborhood kept a suburban feel. The city's white flight had little effect on Sheridan-Kalorama. Most residents stayed in the neighborhood and housing prices remained stable. The construction of diplomatic buildings, along with

6760-406: The interior of the neighborhood, along S Street, Wyoming Avenue, Leroy Place, and Bancroft Place. Examples include stand-alone houses on Wyoming Avenue, California Street, and Kalorama Road, built in 1892. One of these houses is now the Embassy of North Macedonia . Typical rowhouses were also built in the 1890s, including ones along 22nd Street, Florida Avenue, Q Street, and R Street. Development in

6864-404: The land his uncle owned. He built two houses, one called Rock Hill located around 23rd and S Streets, where he raised a large family. In 1791, the City of Washington was laid out, but its furthest reach going north was Boundary Street (now Florida Avenue). The neighborhood became part of Washington County, D.C. at that time. Holmead sold his house and a portion of his land in 1794, moving just to

6968-599: The land's mortgage payments. The next owner was John Little, whose large house once stood where Kalorama Park is now located. Due to the growing size of his family, and the success of his businesses, Little kept expanding his estate. By the early 1860s, Little had the large house, a carriage house, a smaller house, and multiple industrial buildings on his estate. There were 17 slaves owned by Little and his relatives, all of whom were freed in 1862, due to legislative actions by Senator Henry Wilson and President Abraham Lincoln . One of his slaves, Hortense Prout, attempted to flee

7072-479: The large apartment and co-op buildings have terraces overlooking the city has been a major selling point. The houses in the area are priced over $ 1 million, while the condominiums and co-ops can be even higher, depending on the building. There is a Kalorama Citizens Association which helps maintain the neighborhood's parks, including Kalorama Park, where a community garden is located. The Association planted new trees and installed park benches to attract visitors to

7176-463: The latest being President Barack Obama , who moved into a large Sheridan-Kalorama house with his family in January 2017. During the first presidency of Donald Trump , his daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner , lived in Sheridan-Kalorama. Previous U.S. presidents that lived in Sheridan-Kalorama include William Howard Taft , Woodrow Wilson , Warren G. Harding , Herbert Hoover , and Franklin D. Roosevelt . Another prominent resident

7280-398: The need for additional homes and apartments. Between 1865 and 1880, an increasing amount of lots were sold, resulting in the loss of previous vast estates. One of the most prominent residences built during this time was an octagonal house where former Ohio Governor William Bebb lived. The house remained until 1949 when it was demolished. After the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871

7384-423: The neighborhood declared a historic landmark, it was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1989. Supporters argued this would help preserve the historic nature of the Sheridan-Kalorama. Even with the landmark designation, by 1993 more than 25 percent of the neighborhood's 686 buildings were owned by foreign nations.   During

7488-487: The neighborhood grew rapidly. Although there were still stand-along house being constructed, most of the new housing consisted of rowhouses. There were also large, ornate apartment buildings constructed in the neighborhood, especially along Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road. Within a few years, all of the lots had been developed and construction slowed down in the 1920s, when there was little land left to develop. Historic preservationists worked with local officials to create

7592-419: The neighborhood include justices of the U.S. Supreme Court , members of Congress , presidential secretaries, and military leaders. The Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District encompasses the entire 190 acres (77 ha) Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood, located in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. . The rough boundaries of the historic district are Rock Creek Park to the north and west, P Street to

7696-486: The neighborhood is home to dozens of embassies, ambassadorial residences, and other diplomatic buildings. Many of them are located along Embassy Row or on streets near it. By 1993, almost 200 buildings in the neighborhood were used as diplomatic offices or residences. The neighborhood has attracted these nations due to the prestige and quiet suburban-like setting. Six U.S. presidents have lived in Sheridan-Kalorama, including Barack Obama . Other notable figures who have lived in

7800-469: The neighborhood is lined with grand apartment buildings until it reaches the Taft Bridge , which gives access to Woodley Park and other neighborhoods north of Rock Creek Park . The neighborhood features a few parks, including Kalorama Park, and three traffic island parks: Ann Hughes Hargrove Park; Biltmore Triangle Garden; and Major General George B. McClellan Park. Kalorama Park is 3 acres (1.2 ha) and located between 19th Street, Columbia Road, and

7904-473: The neighborhood, the size and architectural styles used created a cohesive appearance. Many of the developers and architects that designed houses and apartment buildings in the neighborhood were prominent in their professions, including Arthur B. Heaton , Harry Wardman , B. Stanley Simmons , Hornblower & Marshall , James G. Hill , Appleton P. Clark Jr. , and Thomas Franklin Schneider . There were

8008-414: The new portion of Columbia Road and Connecticut Avenue. Even though rowhouses were being constructed at a rapid pace in Dupont Circle, most of Sheridan-Kalorama was still rural, except for the few landowners who had not sold their properties to developers. Land value tripled as development moved north, and most of old Sheridan-Kalorama was platted and divided into lots. Local officials announced in 1886 that

8112-509: The older homes were demolished and replaced with large apartment buildings. One of the most popular architectural styles built in early 20th-century Sheridan-Kalorama was Colonial Revival , although many other styles are represented in the neighborhood. Decatur Circle was renamed Sheridan Circle and large palatial homes were built in the immediate area. During the Great Depression , many of the mansions and ornate rowhouses were sold to foreign governments. This process has continued for decades and

8216-410: The original 1791 L'Enfant Plan , some of the roads in Sheridan-Kalorama do not share the same grid pattern. In addition to the major roads marking the boundary, the primary roads in Sheridan-Kalorama are 23rd Street, 24th Street, California Street, Kalorama Road, S Street, and Wyoming Avenue. There is one residential circle, Kalorama Circle, on the northern edge of the district, and Sheridan Circle on

8320-611: The parking lot behind 2005 Wyoming Avenue, 2012 Wyoming Avenue (1980s), 2027 Kalorama Road (1970s), 1925 Belmont Road (1960s), 2411 20th Street (1970s), 1809-1855 Biltmore Street (1970s), and 1945-1957 Calvert Street (1970s). An article in The Washington Post described Kalorama Triangle as a village within the city with an "old world vibe". The mixture of historic buildings, quiet streets, easy access to area restaurants and grocery stores, and diversity of its population has drawn in residents for decades. The fact several of

8424-593: The previous year, but was caught and put in jail. Because of her brave attempt and due to the site where she lived, the Kalorama Park and Archeological District is a historic landmark and included in the National Underground Railroad Network . During the Civil War , a large influx of soldiers arrived to the city and its outlying areas. The Cliffbourne estate was commandeered and used as calvary barracks. The barracks became

8528-403: The properties on Massachusetts Avenue, Belmont Road, Kalorama Circle, and Kalorama Road, due to the geography of Rock Creek Park. The area now known as Sheridan-Kalorama was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, the Nacotchtank and Mattawoman . During the 17th century, they came into conflict with white settlers moving to the area. One of the settlers, John Langworth, had been given

8632-433: The rear properties on Mintwood Place. The land comprising modern-day Kalorama Triangle was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Nacotchtank and Mattawoman . In the 1600s, Charles II of England gave one of his former servants an estate in modern day Washington, D.C. A portion of the 600 acres (240 ha) tract was later called Widow's Mite. Before the U.S. won its independence, Widow's Mite

8736-426: The residences built around Sheridan Circle were free-standing mansions, occupied by prominent members of society. The first house to be constructed that faced the circle was the Alice Pike Barney Studio House , an eclectic example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture , which Alice Pike Barney used as an art studio and residence. Foreign governments also became interested in building stylish, large embassies around

8840-503: The roads were improved, sewer lines installed, and lots plotted in the 1870s and 1880s, there was an increase in the neighborhood's development. Construction of a new Woodley Lane Bridge over Rock Creek along with extending Connecticut Avenue northward spurred further interest in Kalorama Triangle. Another development was creation of the Rock Creek Railway , which built a bridge crossing Rock Creek Park , and later merged with

8944-568: The skirmish. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , visiting the ambassadorial residence on the circle, watched the clashes from a distance. During a civil suit by some of the PKK supporters against the Turkish government, a U.S. judge denied Turkey's citing the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act as to why the case should be dismissed. Kalorama Triangle Historic District The Kalorama Triangle Historic District

9048-430: The south, and 22nd Street and Florida Avenue to the east. The surrounding neighborhoods are also historic districts, Dupont Circle to the south and east, and Kalorama Triangle to the northeast. Massachusetts Avenue , another historic district, bisects the neighborhood from the south to the northwest. The properties along the west side of Massachusetts Avenue abut Rock Creek Park. Like many other neighborhoods outside

9152-443: The southern edge. There are a few parks in the district, including the largest, Mitchell Park, as well as Robert Emmet Memorial Park , Sheridan Circle park, and the Ukrainian Independence Park . Lots on the southern portion of the historic district tend to be flat, while the land gradually rises the further north one goes in the neighborhood. The highest point is at Mitchell Park and the surrounding lots. The land drops sharply behind

9256-500: The turn of the century, Kalorama Triangle featured numerous large free-standing houses, including Managannsett, which stood at the intersection of Columbia Road and Wyoming Avenue. The residential character of the neighborhood soon changed, with rowhouses becoming predominant. Some of the earliest homes of this type were built on 19th Street, Biltmore Street, Calvert Street, Columbia Road, Kalorama Road, and Mintwood Place. There were still free-standing houses built during this time, including

9360-432: The two Kalorama neighborhoods became distinct, with affluent residents building homes in Sheridan-Kalorama, and mostly middle-class residents living in Kalorama Triangle. The predominant architectural style for the homes built in the late 19th-century was Romanesque Revival , but in the early 20th-century, Georgian Revival was the more popular style. American Craftsman was also a common style during this period. Most of

9464-466: The war, people began looking beyond the city's boundary, as Sheridan-Kalorama was part of Washington County, D.C. , at the time. Some of the lots during this time were developed for housing, often large homes for wealthy people, intellectuals, and high-ranking government and military officials. The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871 moved the city's boundary to its current size, thus Sheridan-Kalorama joined Washington, D.C. After Connecticut Avenue

9568-497: The west. Rock Creek Park is also one of the northern boundaries. The street boundaries are roughly Connecticut Avenue to the west, Columbia Road to the east, and Calvert Street on the north. The area has been called Kalorama Triangle since the mid 20th-century. The name derives from the Kalorama estate that was once located in the area during the 19th-century. The word, Kalorama, means "nice view" in Greek . The neighborhood

9672-476: Was added to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) on November 27, 1973, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on October 22, 1974. The second is the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District , added to the DCIHS on August 16, 1989, and listed on the NRHP on October 30, 1989. The area that now encompasses Sheridan Circle, and much of the present-day Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood, were originally large estates built outside

9776-413: Was changed by owner Joel Barlow to Kalorama in 1807 and remained so until the 1880s when the estate was sold and subdivided into different lots. The first house built in modern-day Kalorama Triangle was Cliffbourne, where Cliffbourne Street is now located, between Biltmore and Calvert Streets. There was a winding road off Columbia Road, then called Taylor Lane, to reach the Cliffbourne estate. The site

9880-416: Was erected in 1907. Some of the earlier houses built in the neighborhood were replaced with large, decorative apartment buildings in the 1900s-1920s. The Mendota, on 20th Street, was the first to be constructed in the neighborhood. It is one of 25 apartment buildings constructed in Kalorama Triangle between 1901-1927, mostly along Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road due to access to streetcar lines. Some of

9984-488: Was extended north of Florida Avenue , streetcars lines were installed on the road, drawing more people to buy or build houses in the surrounding area. Speculative real estate in the neighborhood began in the 1890s, as ornate rowhouses were built along the neighborhood's main streets. Unlike Kalorama Triangle, which mostly catered to the middle-class, Sheridan-Kalorama catered to the upper-class. The houses in Sheridan-Kalorama were larger and more grand. Some of these rowhouses and

10088-533: Was included in Prince George's County, Maryland , beginning in 1696. When the surrounding area was planned as the nation's capital in 1790, the land was included in Washington County, D.C. There was a manor house called Belair that was built in 1795 on the former Widow's Mite estate. This estate included the modern-day Kalorama Triangle and Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhoods. The name of the estate

10192-403: Was not a good likeness of her husband, and the statue commission rejected Ward's model. The commission and Mrs. Sheridan both approved of a model created by Gutzon Borglum , one that was modeled after Philip Sheridan Jr. The statue and the surrounding park were dedicated on November 27, 1908, and is one of 18 Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. , listed on the NRHP on September 20, 1978, and

10296-467: Was owned or leased by several individuals in the 19th-century, including Colonel George Bomford and U.S. Representative Selah R. Hobbie . William Thornton wanted land in Kalorama Triangle and around 34 acres (14 ha) was deeded to him in 1817. He never lived on the property, and after his death, his widow sold the lot to brothers Christian and Matthew Hines. They built a modest-sized home, but after making poor financial investments, they defaulted on

10400-457: Was passed, Washington County became part of the District of Columbia. Improvements were made to transportation routes and sewer lines were installed north of Boundary Street. Massachusetts Avenue was extended past Boundary Street, before gradually making a sharp turn going northwest along modern-day Embassy Row. Development rapidly occurred in Dupont Circle, and gradually reached farther north to Kalorama Triangle when streetcars were installed along

10504-533: Was previously the Lovett estate and the Barlow-Bomford mausoleum is where present-day Sheridan Circle is located. The earliest developments in the Sheridan-Kalorama neighborhood took place near Decatur Circle, the original name of Sheridan Circle. It was named in honor of United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur , but renamed in 1890, in honor of Civil War General Philip Sheridan . Dupont Circle ,

10608-529: Was the Embassy of Siam (now Thailand). Development in the 1920s grew dramatically, and by 1929, 74.2 percent of the current buildings had been constructed. The neighborhood became known as a place where wealthy people and intellectuals lived. There was minimal growth during the Great Depression , with some of the last houses along Connecticut Avenue being demolished and replaced with additional apartment buildings. The mansions and grand rowhouses along Massachusetts Avenue were sold to foreign governments. Dozens of

10712-408: Was to be the preferred neighborhood for wealthier residents, while Kalorama Triangle was composed of mostly middle class residents. Although the interior of Sheridan-Kalorama remained undeveloped, except for the lots near the streetcar line on Connecticut Avenue, the lots along Massachusetts Avenue quickly developed with large, elaborate houses. By the late 1890s, speculative housing was constructed in

10816-411: Was triple the value of an already built rowhouse in other parts of the city. The palatial homes built along Massachusetts Avenue during the early 20th century set the tone of the neighborhood's other areas. Ornate, larger rowhouses were built in Sheridan-Kalorama, catered to the upper class, with houses designed by local and national architects. Most of the early households in Sheridan-Kalorama consisted of

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