Capitol Hill Restoration Society

Capitol Hill Restoration Society We promote, preserve, and enhance the character of our historic D.C. neighborhood. We promote, preserve, and enhance the character of our historic neighborhoods.

Capitol Hill Restoration Society Mission Statement:

Capitol Hill is a special place. Since its founding in 1954, CHRS has worked continuously to make Capitol Hill the desirable location it has now become. Due to CHRS’s efforts, Capitol Hill won designation as a historic district in 1976. Today, that legacy of standing up for the community continues with our work in planning, zoning, historic pres

ervation, and public safety. Our annual House and Garden Tour shares the best of Capitol Hill with thousands of visitors. Our Preservation Cafés introduce homeowners to craftspeople who have intimate knowledge of caring for historic homes. Our popular walking tours highlight Capitol Hill history and show how residents lived on the Hill many years ago. CHRS is a volunteer organization, made up of Hill residents who love their historic neighborhoods and want to ensure that the unique character of the Hill is around for future generations. Come join us!

Did you knowBarracks Row was once known as the "Gay Way?"From the 1960s through the 1980s, le***an and gay bars dotted 8...
06/19/2026

Did you knowBarracks Row was once known as the "Gay Way?"

From the 1960s through the 1980s, le***an and gay bars dotted 8th Street SE, making Barracks Row an important gathering place for Washington's LGBTQ community.

Among them was Phase One, which operated from 1971 to 2016 and was the longest continuously operating le***an bar in the United States.

Today, many of those establishments are gone, but their stories remain.

Preserving Capitol Hill's history means treasuring the stories of the people and places that shaped our neighborhood. Happy Capital Pride 2026!

History MysteryCHRS recently received a photocopy of a publication titled An Irreverent Guide to Capitol Hill by longtim...
06/14/2026

History Mystery

CHRS recently received a photocopy of a publication titled An Irreverent Guide to Capitol Hill by longtime Capitol Hill resident and journalist Tom Kelly, often known as the unofficial “mayor of Capitol Hill.”

We’ve searched available newspaper archives and other sources but have not been able to determine when or where this guide was originally published.

Was it a newspaper supplement? A neighborhood guidebook? A special publication? Something else?

If you remember this publication, own a copy, or know where it first appeared, we’d love your help. Please leave a comment or send us a message.

Swipe to see pages from the guide, along with photos of Tom Kelly and his Capitol Hill home. We've borrowed a lovely photo of Tom from the Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill History Project.

Towers and turrets on Capitol Hill.In the late 19th Century, architects and builders moved beyond the simpler forms of e...
06/12/2026

Towers and turrets on Capitol Hill.

In the late 19th Century, architects and builders moved beyond the simpler forms of earlier rowhouses, adding towers, turrets, bays, dormers, and other eye-catching features that define many of our blocks today.

They appeared in Capitol Hill's most popular Victorian-era styles, including Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Chateauesque. Some are round, some are polygonal. Some rise above corner buildings to anchor an intersection, while others create a focal point in the middle of a row. Som are topped with slate or copper-clad roofs that have weathered to a soft green.

Together they help give Capitol Hill its distinctive skyline. Which tower or turret is your favorite?

One of of Capitol Hill's older surviving homes, the Carbery House was built by architect and contractor Robert Alexander...
06/02/2026

One of of Capitol Hill's older surviving homes, the Carbery House was built by architect and contractor Robert Alexander around 1804.

It didn't look like this. The house was originally a Federal-style residence with the symmetry and restrained elegance that defined the young capital.

You can still see those details: the balanced facade, graceful fanlight, sidelights, and six-paneled front door.
But in 1889, a dramatic three-story tower was added to the front, transforming the building and creating the distinctive silhouette that is very recognizeable today.

Alexander helped design nearby Christ Church and worked closely with Benjamin Henry Latrobe on projects at the Navy Yard. The home later became associated with James Carbery (1793-1851), a naval architect, Navy Yard official, original member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, and local legislator, whose family owned the property for nearly fifty years.

James is not the Carbery of Carbery School on 5th Street NE, now a condo building. That school was named for Thomas Carbery (June 26, 1791 - May 23, 1863), the sixth mayor of the City of Washington.

Built in the late 1850s, this Capitol Hill row house came full circle when one of its current owners returned years late...
05/19/2026

Built in the late 1850s, this Capitol Hill row house came full circle when one of its current owners returned years later to buy back the home where she grew up.

Over the past five years, the garden has become an evolving experiment in what happens when nature is allowed to take the lead. More than 200 species of native plants now fill the deep front yard, creating habitat for birds, butterflies, insects, rabbits, the occasional hawk, and one memorable wild turkey.

Out back, a compact edible garden packs in fruit trees, berries, herbs, and seasonal vegetables, proving just how much life can fit onto a city lot.

This was one of the highlights of this year’s Capitol Hill House & Garden Tour.

📸: .by.sarah

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05/15/2026

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We were thrilled to gather with this year’s Capitol Hill photo contest winners to celebrate the places and people who ma...
05/15/2026

We were thrilled to gather with this year’s Capitol Hill photo contest winners to celebrate the places and people who make our neighborhood fantastic.

Thank you to and for hosting last week’s reception and to our judges Gary Mintz, William Hauck, Joe Himali and Marianna Sotomayor.You’ll find the photos in their windows near Eastern Market.

The photos highlight the beauty in everyday D.C. moments — row houses, light, architecture, streetscapes and community.

Front row: Bob Dardano, Jasmine Padgett, Shelby Swiney, Mike Bowers, Donna McLean

Back row: Patti Martin, Ragnar Thoresen

Planning your weekend at the Capitol Hill House & Garden Tour? Here are a few quick FAQs before Mother’s Day weekend. 🌿 ...
05/08/2026

Planning your weekend at the Capitol Hill House & Garden Tour? Here are a few quick FAQs before Mother’s Day weekend. 🌿

Address

420 10th Street SE
Washington D.C., DC
20003

Telephone

+12025430425

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