Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle, as its name implies, is a neighborhood that grew around its eponymous traffic circle. The circle connects several major thoroughfares: Connecticut Ave., Massachusetts Ave., New Hampshire Ave., and 19th St. At the center of the traffic circle is a fountain that’s dedicated to its namesake Samuel Francis Du Pont. The National Park Service maintains the circle’s park and residents enjoy the landscaped gardens and ornamental trees as well as the permanent stone chessboards.
Dupont Circle represents urban living at its best. The community has a diverse selection of shops, restaurants, galleries, bars and nightclubs. Dupont Circle is also home to several embassies, most of which are housed in the neighborhood’s historic properties. These, among other landmarks, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other historic highlights include a few religious establishments, such as the International Temple. This area is also home to The Phillips Collection, the first modern art museum in the United States, and the Christian Heurich Mansion, or the Brewmaster’s Castle. Brick rowhouses and condos that date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s dominate Dupont Circle’s landscape.