Washington, D.C./Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is an affluent historic neighborhood in Washington D.C. It is known for its beautiful Victorian homes, walkability, and has offices, civic institutions, hotels, night clubs, bars, cafes, art galleries, and shops.

Understand
Pierre Charles L'Enfant's original plan for Washington, D.C. included a number of grand boulevards, radiating out and intersecting with one another in a way that would create public squares and green space. One such circle, Dupont Circle, lies at the intersection of Connecticut Ave, which emanates from the White House and runs roughly north-south, New Hampshire Ave, which runs diagonally, and Massachusetts Ave which runs roughly east-west.

The Dupont Circle area remained largely undeveloped until after the Civil War, when demand for housing from returning soldiers and freed slaves spurred additional development in D.C. Construction of the traffic circle, originally called Pacific Circle, began in 1871. In 1884, the circle was renamed after Civil War Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont, partial heir to the DuPont family fortune, and a bronze statue of him was added. The statue was replaced in 1921 with the large marble fountain that remains to this day. The fountain was designed by Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, also the designers of the Lincoln Memorial, and features creatures that symbolize sea, the stars and the wind. It is now a popular gathering spot, with many places to sit.

In the early 1900s, the area became a popular place for wealthy Washingtonians to build their mansions, most notably on Massachusetts Ave.

In the late 1940s, a tunnel was built beneath Dupont Circle as part of a Capital Transit streetcar project. Streetcar service ended in 1962, and the underground space where it was located is now an event venue. Along with the streetcar tunnel, another tunnel was constructed to allow Connecticut Ave vehicle traffic to pass beneath, helping to alleviate traffic congestion around the circle.

While the neighborhood suffered considerably during the 1968 riots, it recovered faster than the adjacent neighborhoods of Shaw and the East End due in part to the trendiness brought on by the gay community, which brought a Bohemian feel the area, similar to Greenwich Village in New York City. In the 1980s and 1990s several clubs, bars, and shops opened in the area, furthering the gentrification process.

The neighborhood is now increasingly upscale due to its walkability, centrality and historic architecture, home to older professionals and a smaller wealthy elite who can afford some of the highest home prices in the city.

By Metrorail
Metro is exceptionally convenient in Dupont Circle—the Dupont Circle stop on the Red Line is right under the circle. The station's north and south exits are fairly far apart, so take a moment to figure out which one will get you in the direction you want to go.

For more information on riding the Metrorail in Washington DC, see Washington DC.

By bus
The following are the main bus routes operating in Dupont Circle, along with links to timetables and route maps. For more information on riding buses in Washington DC, see Washington DC.


 * G2 runs along P St between Georgetown and Shaw is a good way to travel east-west. It stops on P St just off the circle on both sides.


 * L2 is a good way to quickly get up 18th St to Adams Morgan—it runs up from K St along 20th to New Hampshire, around the circle, back on New Hampshire, and then up 18th St.


 * #42 runs between Chinatown and Mount Pleasant, stopping in Dupont Circle. It is a good alternative to the Metro to getting to the National Mall area, passing many historical buildings en route.


 * D.C. Circulator's Dupont Circle–Georgetown–Rosslyn "Light Blue" Line runs from the corner of 19th and N Streets, near the south exit of the Dupont Circle Metro station, to Rosslyn, via the West End and Georgetown.

By car
Unless you are an experienced D.C. driver, it is very easy to get confused in Dupont Circle, or worse yet, wind up on the barbarous circle.

Connecticut Ave is the main thoroughfare. Massachusetts Ave is busy as well, but its traffic patterns are too confusing to be of much practical value. If passing through, make sure to stay in the left lanes to go through a tunnel under the circle, not around it. Traffic is terrible on the circle, in volume, confusion, and rage. If you accidentally get stuck driving around the circle and don't know what you are doing, stay in the outer lane and get off to save yourself the headache. P St is the best route west to Georgetown.

Parking
Street parking is scarce, and limited to 2 hours during the daytime on weekdays. There are several parking garages, with daily rates in the $15-$20 range. Late at night, you can find street parking in the deserted business district just south of M St in the West End.

See




Embassy Row
Many of the buildings that now house embassies were once the luxurious residences of the rich and famous. If you have the opportunity, take a walking tour of embassy row and learn the stories behind these beautiful buildings.



Do
Dupont Circle has plenty of activities, albeit mostly geared towards adults. The actual Dupont Circle, around which the neighborhood is centered, has a nice park in the middle of the traffic circle. It's a favorite neighborhood spot to read, play chess, and people-watch. On summer weekends there are relatively frequent musical performances.

Think tanks
Dupont Circle has probably the highest concentration of major think tanks of any neighborhood in the U.S., if not the world. They host frequent free talks and panels during lunch hour (free food is often included) and happy hour. Topics include a variety of policy issues, some of which are very technical or esoteric and others of which are more generally accessible.

Art galleries
Most galleries in Dupont Circle participate in First Friday Dupont, an open house from 6PM-8PM on the first Friday of every month, with a strong social bent (cocktails, music, etc.).



Books and music
Dupont Circle may not have many bookstores, but those that are here are beloved city-wide.



Eat


Dupont Circle has plenty of dining options, from French and Kenyan to Korean and Thai, but this is increasingly expensive territory which has pushed the city's newer, hipper and trendier places further east towards Adams Morgan and U Street. For more affordable and cutting edge dining, visit the nearby neighborhoods of Shaw or Columbia Heights.

If you're visiting on a Sunday morning, be sure to check out the farmers market on 20th Street, one of the largest and best in the city.

Budget




Drink
There are bars, clubs, and lounges catering to all sorts of different people, but the general theme is that they are upscale or clubby - you won't find many dive bars here and you likely won't be allowed into a club wearing sneakers or shorts. The main nightlife stretches are along Connecticut Ave just north and south of the Circle, P St west of the Circle, and on 17th between P and T St.

There are plenty of cafes, which are far more affordable, including many Starbucks locations. Independent coffee shops are in ample supply as well, most of which offer outdoor seating in nice weather to watch the crowds go by.

Clubs
Dupont Circle is one of the major clubbing areas of the city.



Sleep


Dupont Circle is a great place to stay when in D.C., and should be even more popular than it is. Rates are more affordable than at the big chain hotels in the touristy East End or even more upscale West End, there are several charming independent options, it's a great area to come back to in the evening, has convenient metro service, and is just a few blocks north of the main business district. If staying towards the southwest end, you'll be right by the business district of the West End, and a short walk from Georgetown, while the northeast side puts you closer to main dining and nightlife strips.

Mid-range






Internet
Almost all cafes and restaurants in Dupont Circle offer free WiFi.

Go next

 * Adams Morgan - north along 18th St, this neighborhood is popular for its bars and nightlife
 * Georgetown - west along M to Q streets
 * Shaw - east along U St
 * Upper Northwest - just north of Dupont Circle, includes the free National Zoo