417 U St NW

Washington, DC 20001

LeDroit Park, a neighborhood that is recognized for its proximity to the many conveniences and amenities of the city, was actually one of the first suburbs established in Washington, DC. It was founded in 1873 by Howard University board of trustees member Amzi Barber and named for his father-in-law LeDroit Langdon. The neighborhood comprises houses of a variety of styles, from Victorian and Gothic Revival to Italianate, all built along quiet, tree-lined streets. Many of these historical revival styles enjoyed long periods of popularity, even after their respective apotheoses. This townhouse was designed in the Italianate style, which enjoyed a brief, but vigorous period of celebrity for about 20 years around the end of the Civil War. It closely resembles a related architectural style known as Second Empire, for which Logan Circle is so well known. Of the 64 houses designed by James McGill in the decade after its founding, the townhouse at 417 U Street, NW, is among 50 original LeDroit Park houses still remaining. It is a gracious composition with spacious public rooms on the first floor and bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper floors. Having endured the depredations of time, this residence awaits its reinterpretation to be as fine a house as it was during its halcyon days. LeDroit Park now enjoys its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places along with many other distinguished residential neighborhoods.