U Street/Shaw/ Logan Circle
Where: North of M Street NW and south of Florida Avenue NW, between 11th Street and New Jersey Avenue NW; a small western portion stretches to 16th Street NW. Rhode Island and Vermont Avenues meet 13th and P Streets NW at Logan Circle.
What’s in a name: Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw famously commanded the all-black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry featured in the movie, “Glory.” Logan Circle is named for Civil War general and Illinois senator John Logan.
Thumbnail: The birthplace of Duke Ellington and the center of Washington’s African-American nightlife for much of the 20th century is once again thriving. On weekend nights, U Street rivals Adams Morgan for crowds, though with a slightly older vibe. “The cutting edge of what this city is and can be,” U Street is also equally intriguing by day, home to the African American Civil War Memorial, Lincoln Theatre and Howard University. Designer home-furnishings stores, boutiques and music clubs abound near the junction of 14th & U streets.
Calling Cards: Pay a late-night visit to Ben’s Chili Bowl, home of DC’s signature dish, the chili half-smoke. Order some doro wat and tibi to share in Little Ethiopia. Groove to a live jazz set at Polly’s or see for yourself why the 9:30 Club is considered the best live music venue in the country. Shop for vintage clothing at Nana or funky home furnishings at Go Mama Go! Take in an edgy production at The Studio Theatre.
Getting there: Take Metro to U Street/ African-Amer Civil War Memorial/ Cardozo.
Explore the Neighborhood
Learn about the people, places and events that shaped these historic sections of the city by following one of Cultural Tourism DC's neighborhood heritage trails.
Before Harlem, There Was U Street follows the footsteps of DC native Duke Ellington and other jazz greats like Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie, who turned the neighborhood into an entertainment destination in the 1920s and 30s.
Mid-City at the Crossroads: Shaw Heritage Trail points out highlights such as the home of Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month and the Carnegie Library, one of the few public places in DC that was never segregated.
