GEORGETOWN, A HISTORY O
riginally founded as a tobacco trading post in the mid-18th century, the streets of Georgetown are as steeped in history as the rest of our capital city. Most don’t know that Georgetown was originally separate from the rest of the city, until Congress restructured the District in 1871. Home to politicians and local celebrities past and present — John F. Kennedy called the area home during his time on the Hill and you might catch Senator John Kerry on O St. — visit some of these spots to feel a part of the area’s rich past. OLD STONE HOUSE: This tiny stone building on M Street, located between a Vietnamese restaurant and the Junior League of Washington’s headquarters, is one of the oldest standing structures in D.C. Built in 1765, it is now a period house operated by the National Park Service. Head over for a little history lesson and to see its beautiful garden. THE EXORCIST STEPS: This narrow stone stairwell connecting Prospect to M Street was made famous by The Exorcist, which was based on a book written by a Georgetown alum, partially filmed in Georgetown and premiered in 1973. Though they’re steep and understandably a little scary, more hardcore athletes enjoy running on them for some intense training. If you don’t have the guts — or the energy — to walk up the 97 steps, you can always see them during the annual Halloween screening of The Exorcist in Gaston Hall. DUMBARTON OAKS: This 200-yearold building was home to John Calhoun, a leading politician from South Carolina during the antebellum period. But School of Foreign Service kids will likely be more interested by the fact that the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, which laid the groundwork
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for the charter of the United Nations, was held here in 1944. Now, the house serves as a museum specializing in Pre-Columbian and Byzantine studies, as well as home to a magnificent garden. CITY TAVERN: Now a private club, this Federal-style brick building on M Street is the oldest tavern inn in D.C. Notable patrons have ranged through history from George Washington to Ronald Reagan. OAK HILL CEMETERY: This 19th-century graveyard and garden in Northeast Georgetown. is the final resting place for some of D.C.’s most famous residents: Dean Acheson, secretary of state under Truman, Philip and Katherine Graham, past publishers and owners of The Washington Post, and Jacob Fussell, founder of the United States’ first commercial ice cream plant, are all buried there. Head east on R St. and you’ll find a serene cemetery worth a walk through, if you’re not too spooked. MARTIN’S TAVERN: A favorite brunch spot for politicians and parents of Georgetown students, this tavern is quite possibly the only restaurant in the world that can say every sitting president from Harry Truman to George W. Bush has eaten there. For the romantics among us, Martin’s is also famous as the place where JFK may have proposed to Jackie. CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL: Though this 19th century canal stopped operations in 1924, it originally played an important role in Georgetown’s burgeoning economy, helping get tobacco and cotton out of the South. Nowadays, it’s mostly used as a running loop for athletic Hoyas, though we don’t recommend it in the warmest months, when it doesn’t have the most pleasant smell.