Discover a Victorian-Era Time Capsule
Few Washington neighborhoods have witnessed the dramatic change and breathtaking renaissance of Logan Circle, the city’s only unaltered Victorian residential district. It evolved from rural obscurity to an enclave of architectural splendor, home to wealthy White and later Black residents, including Black women activists, artists, and entrepreneurs.
If you’re a fan of Second Empire or High Victorian Gothic homes, this walk is for you. If you’re fascinated by the dynamics of urban neighborhoods, consider the residents of Logan Circle: Their tenacity and vision preserved the historic district when it teetered on the brink of decline. Today it is a sought-after addresses in Washington.
See Where Remarkable Black Women Lived and Worked
Starting in the 1930s, Black Washingtonians began to move into what is today’s Logan Circle Historic District. Some were members of D.C.’s Black elite while others were from the working class. All lived in proximity to one another. Educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune, attorney and judge Marjorie McKenzie Lawson, entrepreneur Margaret Nicodemus, and teacher Evelyn Letcher are just some of the Black women who’s influence was felt in their neighborhood, in Washington, D.C., and, in some instances, across the nation.
What is Logan Circle Known For?
The Logan Circle neighborhood is filled with historically significant Black history sites such as:
- The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House (a docent-led tour of this site is included in the walk!)
- St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
- The former home of renowned Washington artist Alma Thomas
And of course Logan Circle itself, with its bronze equestrian statue and surrounding 19th-century mansions.
Who is the Logan in Logan Circle?
John A. Logan was Commander of the Army of the Tennessee during the U.S. Civil War, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and U.S. representative and senator for the state of Illinois. Logan Circle was named in his honor by the U.S. Congress in 1930. Logan and his family lived for a time at 4 Logan Circle. He is celebrated for his role in founding the Memorial Day holiday.
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