WHAT YOU’LL SEE!

Come and be a witness to change in Columbia Heights, where the charmingly traditional meets the latest in urban planning. Rich in history, Columbia Heights stands today as a dynamically evolving neighborhood dotted with new venues for performing arts and zesty Latin eateries.

CULTURAL CONVERGENCE: COLUMBIA HEIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD HERITAGE TRAIL

This self-guided walking trail traces neighborhood history from elite suburb through the civil disturbances of 1968 to busy commercial corridor. Follow the signs to learn about Columbia Heights’ diverse population and take in panoramic views of the city.

Until April 1968, the 14th Street corridor between Irving Street and Park Road was one of the city’s most important shopping and entertainment destinations outside Downtown.

But that changed abruptly when the disturbances following the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led to extensive looting and burning here and in other parts of DC. For decades afterwards, boarded-up businesses and empty lots marred much of the 14th Street corridor. Now change has swept the area again.

The 1999 opening of the Columbia Heights Metro station has spurred massive redevelopment, and exciting new businesses are drawing activity to the area. Apartment buildings and rowhouses have filled in some of the empty lots, and a large shopping complex was recently completed. Don’t forget to stroll down the side streets to see some of DC’s most elegant early 20th-century rowhouses, then grab a bite at one of the nearby small restaurants along 14th Street and Park Road. This information provided courtesy of Cultural Tourism DC. For additional information, visit: http://www.culturaltourismdc.org

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS