The Dupont Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C., was meant to be a traffic circle in the original plan by Pierre Charles L’ Enfant. It stands at the intersection point of New Hampshire Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue. There are a number of empty tunnels beneath the Dupont Circle, which were earlier meant for streetcars. Dupont Circle is one of the trendiest places in all of Washington, D.C.
History
Works for the Dupont Circle began in 1871. Dupont, at that time, was a society of affluent and famous people, and marked by grand homes. Famous personalities like William Taft, Alexander Graham Bell, and newspaper publishers Cissy Patterson, had their homes here.
After construction of the Dupont Circle was completed, in 1884, a bronze statue of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont, who had served in the Civil War, was erected. In 1921 however, a marble fountain replaced the statue. The marble fountain continues to occupy the pride of place till today. The area continues to retains its name, though.
Streetcar Tunnel: In the 1940s tunnels were dug beneath the Dupont Circle, on which street-cars transited. By 1960, the street-car project was wound up. The tunnels run empty today.
Architecture
The Marble Fountain: The double-tiered marble fountain at the center of Dupont Circle, has been designed by Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon. The central column, from which water spews forth, is carved with personified figures of the sea, the stars and the wind.
The Dupont Circle has some of the most beautiful buildings in town. A walking tour of the Dupont Circle should include the following points of interest.
1. Cathedral of Saint Mathew the Apos: It has an impressive dome with even more impressive interiors.
2. Heurich Mansion (now the Heurich House Museum): This mansion belonged to the German brew-master Christian Heurich. Tours of the building are available. The garden just outside is a show stealer.
3. The Mansion on a Street: Originally, the residential property of architect Edward Clark, it is today a boutique hotel.
4. Dupont Circle Fountain: This piece of public art, is the most famous fountain in Washington, D.C.
5. The Patterson Mansion: Owned by newspaper owner Cissy Patterson, this mansion was put on the market for 26 million dollars. Now, plans are on to sell the building in micro-units.
6. Embassy of Indonesia: This 50-room mansion was lovingly created for a daughter by her father. Evalyn Walsh McLean, the last private owner of The Hope Diamond, was the original owner of the building.
7. Thomas T. Gaff House: Initially owned by the businessman Thomas T Gaffe, this mansion now hosts Colombian Ambassador to the United States.
8. The Phillips Collection: This Georgian Revival House showcases collections of American and European art.
9. Cosmos Club: Alternately called the Townsend house, this Beaux Arts home now houses the elite Cosmos Club.
10. L Ron Hubbard Original Church: This was the home of American author and the founder of Scientology- L Ron Hubbard.
Social Life at Dupont Circle
The park surrounding the Dupont Circle is a pleasant place to spend some quality time. Play chess, watch people go about their daily lives, or read your favorite novel. Musical performances, during summer weekends, bring this place to life. Solitude loving bookworms crowd the Kramerbooks and Afterword Cafe. Then, there is the famous Dupont Freshfarm Market, which has been credited with ‘teaching Washingtonians to love their fruits and vegetables’.
Gay Community in Dupont
Dupont is also known as the ‘gay capital’ of USA. A stretch of 17th Street NW, in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, is named after Franklin E. Kaminey- a pioneering gay rights activist. The first gay bookstore in Washington, D.C., Lambda Rising, opened in Dupont. Dupont is also the starting point of an annual gay parade- Capital Pride Parade. Dupont had started becoming a center for gay people in the early 1970s, particularly along P. Street, where a number of gay bars opened. A few famous ones are Fireplace, JR’s Bar and Grill, Cobalt, the FAB Lounge, Omega and Pasha Lounge. Gradually though, with an increased acceptance into mainstream life, the gay community spread out from Dupont. Dupont, though evidently gay-friendly, is today much more heterosexual.
Dupont Circle Map
Facts about Dupont Circle
- Dupont Circle is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.
- As explained in the Washington Times in 1919, the statue of Dupont was removed because it was ‘rather awkward looking’ and ‘an eyesore to his relatives and friends’.
- On the base of the marble fountain that replaced the statue, words describing the admiral were inscribed.
- The monument stands today in Rockford Park, Delaware.
Where is Dupont Circle?
Dupont Circle is located at the intersection of several avenues in Washington, D.C., viz, Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW.
Reach by Air:
The nearest international airport is Washington Dulles International Airport. From there it is a distance of 28.2 miles, if a visitor takes the Dulles Access Road and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
A cab will take 40 minutes to cover the distance.
Reach by Rail:
The nearest railway station is the Union Station. From there the Red Metro will take a visitor to Dupont Circle in 13 minutes.
Best time to visit Dupont Circle
Best time to visit Washington is during spring, from February to June, and again in the month preceding Thanksgiving.
Dupont Circle Address
1525 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Dupont Circle Tickets
Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, hence, there is no entry fees.
Dupont Circle Hours
You can visit this area anytime.
More on Dupont Circle
What are the coordinates of DuPont Circle?
The coordinates of Dupont Circle are 38.9096° N, 77.0434° W
What are the places of interest near Dupont Circle?
Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, the White House, the National Theatre, the National Archives, the Houses of Congress, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.
Related: Washington DC Metro Map | Washington DC Location Map