Perched along the banks of the Potomac River, the waterfront district of Georgetown is one of Washington D.C.’s most historic neighbourhoods. Chock full of centuries-old landmarks, famous former residents and well-known film sites, Georgetown has become one of the most iconic areas of the United States capital.
The Georgetown University campus is naturally an anchor of the Georgetown neighbourhood with its Flemish Romanesque Healy Hall designated a National Historic Landmark. Other historic landmarks in the area include the 1796 City Tavern Club and the Volta Laboratory and Bureau, the first formal lab established by Alexander Graham Bell. Bell was just one former well-known denizen of Georgetown, along with Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. John Kerry, Bob Woodward and Madeleine Albright still call these streets home. Movie buffs are sure to recognise the 75-step staircase connecting Prospect and M Streets from the thrilling climax of The Exorcist. Travellers with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss Georgetown Cupcakes, made famous by the TLC reality show D.C. Cupcakes. Huge dollops of extra sugary frosting top cakes in classic flavours like carrot and red velvet as well as more creative combos like apple cinnamon.
Unlike most D.C. neighbourhoods, Georgetown has no Metro station of its own. The closest stops are Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom-GWU on the blue, silver and orange lines and Dupont Circle on the red line. Each of these lies about a mile from the centre of the neighbourhood. Georgetown is better served by various bus routes, including the 30-series and D-series.
Not only was Georgetown its own separate city before becoming part of Washington D.C. in 1871, but the district is actually older than the capital itself. A lively port town and tobacco trading post, Georgetown was formally founded in 1751, a full 40 years before the City of Washington.