DC Writer's Homes Washington DC
Follow In their footsteps
What do Langston Hughes, Tallulah Bankhead, Ezra Pound, Roald Dahl and John F. Kennedy have in common? Find out at DC Writer's Homes, an epic online database of places connected to DC literati. What started as a quirky hobby for friends and literary historians Kim Roberts and Dan Vera resulted in a resource gathering facts which might otherwise have been lost over the years. Explore the impressive list by neighborhood, literary genre, or fun subcategories like 'radicals,' 'showbiz,' 'hosts of literary salons,' or 'spies and their families.'
The hours one could spend reading these fascinating tidbits about our famous residents are dwarfed by the steps you can rack up visiting the spots they laid their heads. JFK, for example, couch-surfed seven DC locations, from a house he shared during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives to the White House. The Y at 1816 12th Street NW has a re-creation of the single room in which Langston Hughes would have lived in 1925. (The nearby Busboys and Poets bookstore at 14th and V Streets, NW, is named for Hughes, who worked as a hotel busboy to subsidize his poetic life.) Two of Clara Barton's residences are open to the public: one in the Glen Echo Chautauqua and the other at 437 Seventh St. N.W., home to the Office of Missing Soldiers she helmed post Civil War.
To really nerd out, click 'Also of Interest' for other locations, like cemeteries, churches, parks, and restaurants, of literary import.
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AU Museum
Art from around the world
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Spanish Steps
Lovely secluded spot
The "Spanish Steps" in Kalorama, Washington DC, are surrounded by trees and the sound of falling water. A lovely, secluded spot to catch up with a friend!
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Mitchell Park
Green space for hanging out
"Mitchell Park" is a much-welcomed green space within the Kalorama neighborhood in Washington DC. It's the perfect spot to bring a book and read for hours!
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Woodrow Wilson House
Home of the 28th President
"Woodrow Wilson House" in Washington D.C. is the only presidential museum in the city. It's made for history buffs, like me!
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Un je ne sais Quoi
French pastries
"Un je ne sais Quoi" in Washington DC is my go-to place for a sweet fix with a French twist - it's the most authentic French bakery in the city!
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Hains Point
Perfect day by the water
"Hains Point" in Washington DC is the perfect place to spend a sunny weekend afternoon. Pack a picnic and enjoy the day by the water with beautiful views!
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Oak Hill Cemetery
Peaceful retreat
I come to "Oak Hill Cemetery" in Washington DC whenever I am walking through Georgetown on a slow afternoon and have some time for myself...
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Roosevelt Island
Outdoor monument to a president
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The REACH
A living theater
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Dumbarton Oaks Museum
Art and research
"Dumbarton Oaks Museum" in Washington D.C. is a historic estate that holds a rich collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art. Also visit the garden!
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Tudor Place
America's story lives here
"Tudor Place" is the only property in Washington DC connected to George & Martha Washington and has a collection of objects that detail American history...
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O St. Mansion
The wackiest place in D.C.
The "O St. Mansion" is one of the wackiest places I have been to in Washington D.C.! It's truly the embodiment of sensory overload... What a fusion!
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