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Connecticut Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Encyclopedia
Connecticut Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.
, and suburban Montgomery County, Maryland
. It is one of the diagonal avenues radiating from the White House
, and the segment south of Florida Avenue was one of the original streets in Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant's's plan for Washington.
. It is interrupted by Farragut Square
. North of Farragut Square and K Street
, Connecticut Avenue is one of the major streets in downtown Washington
, with high-end restaurants, historical buildings such as Sedgwick Gardens
, hotels, and shopping.
As Connecticut Avenue approaches the Dupont Circle neighborhood, it splits at N Street into a through roadway and service roadways
. The through roadway tunnels under Dupont Circle, while the service roadways intersect the outer roadway of the circle. Just north of the circle, the service roadways are known for their many gay
-oriented businesses, of which the most famous is Lambda Rising
. The through roadway and service roadways rejoin at R Street. Originally, there was no tunnel, and all vehicular traffic on Connecticut Avenue went through the circle. The tunnel was built in 1949.
After crossing Florida Avenue near the Hilton Washington
hotel, Connecticut Avenue narrows and winds between the Kalorama
neighborhoods. (The Kalorama Triangle district extends eastward from Connecticut, while Sheridan-Kalorama lies to the west.) The avenue then crosses Rock Creek Park
on the William Howard Taft Bridge and goes through upper Northwest Washington, D.C., including the Woodley Park, Cleveland Park
, and Chevy Chase, D.C.
neighborhoods. Between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, Connecticut Avenue is carried over a deep valley
on another bridge
. Numerous older, Art Deco
high-rise apartment buildings line the 3000 block, with slightly newer apartment buildings in the 4000 and 5000 blocks.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park
is located along Connecticut Avenue, halfway between the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park Metro
stations. Also located along this stretch of Connecticut Avenue is a major operational center of Intelsat
, as are the landmark Wardman Park Marriott
Hotel, the city's largest, and the Omni Shoreham Hotel
. This section is also a major commuter route and has reversible lane
s along most of its length which operate during the morning and evening rush hours (7:00–9:30 a.m. and 4:00–6:30 p.m.). It connects with the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
via 24th Street. Mid-century era high-rise apartments line the avenue, with elegant, older detached homes on shady side streets.
After passing the main campus of the University of the District of Columbia
near the Van Ness metrorail station, Connecticut Avenue exits the District of Columbia at Chevy Chase Circle, which is at the intersection of Connecticut and Western Avenues. Once entering Maryland, it gains the route designation Maryland State Highway 185 and goes through the Chevy Chase, Maryland
postal area. The National 4-H
Youth Conference Center is on this stretch of Connecticut Avenue, as is the Chevy Chase Club.
After interchanging with the Capital Beltway
at Exit 33, Connecticut Avenue enters Kensington
, where it is the major north-south street of the central business district. Connecticut Avenue used to end at University Boulevard (Maryland State Highway 193). However, Concord Avenue was extended northward to form an extension of Connecticut Avenue.
That extension of Connecticut Avenue passes through Wheaton
and Aspen Hill
. The state route designation ends at Georgia Avenue (Maryland State Highway 97). Connecticut Avenue, now simply a local street, continues past Georgia Avenue and ends at Leisure World Boulevard.
Connecticut Avenue is an arterial route in the National Highway System
between K Street
and Nebraska Avenue.
of the Washington Metro
subway system runs beneath Connecticut Avenue. Metro stations along or near Connecticut Avenue include:
routes travel along the street (listed from south to north):
stop lies on the street:
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and suburban Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. It is one of the diagonal avenues radiating from the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, and the segment south of Florida Avenue was one of the original streets in Pierre (Peter) Charles L'Enfant's's plan for Washington.
Course
Connecticut Avenue begins just north of the White House at Lafayette SquarePresident's Park
President's Park, located in Washington, D.C., encompasses the White House, a visitor center, Lafayette Square, and The Ellipse. President's Park was the original name of Lafayette Square. The current President's Park is administered by the National Park Service.-White House:Washington, D.C...
. It is interrupted by Farragut Square
Farragut Square
Farragut Square is a city square in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 2. It is bordered by K Street NW on the north, I Street NW to the south, and on the east and west by segments of 17th Street NW, and it interrupts Connecticut Avenue NW...
. North of Farragut Square and K Street
K Street (Washington, D.C.)
K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.-Location:...
, Connecticut Avenue is one of the major streets in downtown Washington
Downtown Washington, D.C.
Downtown is a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as well as a colloquial name for the central business district in the northwest quadrant of the city. Geographically, the area extends roughly five to six blocks west, northwest, north, northeast, and east of the White House...
, with high-end restaurants, historical buildings such as Sedgwick Gardens
Sedgwick Gardens
Sedgwick Gardens, located at 3726 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, is an apartment building on the southwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and Sedgwick Street in Northwest Washington D.C. It is located two blocks from the Cleveland Park Metro...
, hotels, and shopping.
As Connecticut Avenue approaches the Dupont Circle neighborhood, it splits at N Street into a through roadway and service roadways
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
. The through roadway tunnels under Dupont Circle, while the service roadways intersect the outer roadway of the circle. Just north of the circle, the service roadways are known for their many gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
-oriented businesses, of which the most famous is Lambda Rising
Lambda Rising
Lambda Rising, an LGBT bookstore that operated from 1974 to 2010 in Washington, D.C..Founded by Deacon Maccubbin in 1974 with 250 titles, it was known for its wide selection of books, ranging from queer theory and religion to erotica, as well as DVDs, music CDs and gifts.The bookstore was...
. The through roadway and service roadways rejoin at R Street. Originally, there was no tunnel, and all vehicular traffic on Connecticut Avenue went through the circle. The tunnel was built in 1949.
After crossing Florida Avenue near the Hilton Washington
Hilton Washington
The Hilton Washington is a hotel in Washington, D.C. It is located at 1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., roughly at the boundaries of the Kalorama, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods.Developed by Uris Brothers and built in 1965 in a double-arched design, the hotel long sported the largest...
hotel, Connecticut Avenue narrows and winds between the Kalorama
Kalorama, Washington, D.C.
The Kalorama area within the Northwest Quadrangle of Washington, D.C., includes two adjacent, quite affluent historical residential neighborhoods, Kalorama Triangle and Sheridan-Kalorama. The area is accessible from the Dupont Circle and Woodley Park Metro stations, as well as various bus lines...
neighborhoods. (The Kalorama Triangle district extends eastward from Connecticut, while Sheridan-Kalorama lies to the west.) The avenue then crosses Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...
on the William Howard Taft Bridge and goes through upper Northwest Washington, D.C., including the Woodley Park, Cleveland Park
Cleveland Park
Cleveland Park is a residential neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C.It is located at and bounded approximately by Rock Creek Park to the east, Wisconsin and Idaho Avenues to the west, Klingle and Woodley Roads to the south, and Rodman and Tilden Streets to the north...
, and Chevy Chase, D.C.
Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C.
Chevy Chase is a neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. It borders Chevy Chase, Maryland, a collection of similarly affluent neighborhoods.-Geography:...
neighborhoods. Between Woodley Park and Cleveland Park, Connecticut Avenue is carried over a deep valley
Klingle Road
Klingle Road is a street in Washington, D.C.. A portion of the road was closed to traffic in 1991 due to erosion damage. It has been the focus of a long dispute between District residents who wanted the road repaired and residents who wanted to keep this portion of Rock Creek Park free of...
on another bridge
Connecticut Avenue Bridge over Klingle Valley
The Connecticut Avenue Bridge over Klingle Valley, more commonly known as the Klingle Valley Bridge, is an Art Deco concrete bridge located near the Smithsonian National Zoological Park on Connecticut Avenue, Northwest in Washington, D.C...
. Numerous older, Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
high-rise apartment buildings line the 3000 block, with slightly newer apartment buildings in the 4000 and 5000 blocks.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, and as part of the Smithsonian Institution, does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to provide leadership in animal care, science, education,...
is located along Connecticut Avenue, halfway between the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
stations. Also located along this stretch of Connecticut Avenue is a major operational center of Intelsat
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization is an intergovernmental organisation charged with overseeing the public service obligations of Intelsat.-External links:*...
, as are the landmark Wardman Park Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
Hotel, the city's largest, and the Omni Shoreham Hotel
Omni Shoreham Hotel
The Shoreham Hotel is a hotel in Northwest Washington, D.C., owned by Omni Hotels. It is located at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Calvert Street...
. This section is also a major commuter route and has reversible lane
Reversible lane
A reversible lane , called a counterflow lane or contraflow lane in transport engineering nomenclature, is a lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions...
s along most of its length which operate during the morning and evening rush hours (7:00–9:30 a.m. and 4:00–6:30 p.m.). It connects with the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, often known simply as the Rock Creek Parkway, is a parkway maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C...
via 24th Street. Mid-century era high-rise apartments line the avenue, with elegant, older detached homes on shady side streets.
After passing the main campus of the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
near the Van Ness metrorail station, Connecticut Avenue exits the District of Columbia at Chevy Chase Circle, which is at the intersection of Connecticut and Western Avenues. Once entering Maryland, it gains the route designation Maryland State Highway 185 and goes through the Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
postal area. The National 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
Youth Conference Center is on this stretch of Connecticut Avenue, as is the Chevy Chase Club.
After interchanging with the Capital Beltway
Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)
Interstate 495 is a Interstate Highway that surrounds the United States' capital of Washington, D.C., and its inner suburbs in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. I-495 is widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply the Beltway, especially when the context of Washington, D.C., is clear...
at Exit 33, Connecticut Avenue enters Kensington
Kensington, Maryland
Kensington is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census. Greater Kensington encompasses the entire 20895 zip code and its population is an order of magnitude larger than that of the town at its center....
, where it is the major north-south street of the central business district. Connecticut Avenue used to end at University Boulevard (Maryland State Highway 193). However, Concord Avenue was extended northward to form an extension of Connecticut Avenue.
That extension of Connecticut Avenue passes through Wheaton
Wheaton, Maryland
Wheaton is an unincorporated, urbanized area in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, north of Washington, D.C., northwest of Silver Spring. Wheaton takes its name from Frank Wheaton , a career officer in the United States Army and volunteer from Rhode Island in the Union Army who rose to the rank of...
and Aspen Hill
Aspen Hill, Maryland
Aspen Hill is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. It got its name from aspen trees that once were found near the first post office in the area...
. The state route designation ends at Georgia Avenue (Maryland State Highway 97). Connecticut Avenue, now simply a local street, continues past Georgia Avenue and ends at Leisure World Boulevard.
Connecticut Avenue is an arterial route in the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
between K Street
K Street (Washington, D.C.)
K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.-Location:...
and Nebraska Avenue.
Metrorail
The Red LineRed Line (Washington Metro)
The Red Line of the Washington Metro is a rail rapid transit service operating between 27 stations in Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia, United States. It is a primary line through downtown Washington, and the oldest and busiest line in the system...
of the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
subway system runs beneath Connecticut Avenue. Metro stations along or near Connecticut Avenue include:
- Farragut West
- Farragut North
- Dupont Circle
- Woodley Park
- Cleveland Park
- Van Ness-UDC
Metrobus
The following Metrobus routes travel along the street (listed from south to north):- 42 (Columbia Road to Farragut Square)
- N2, N4, N6 (southbound only, from Dupont Circle to Farragut Square)
- L1, L4 (Chevy Chase Circle to Dupont Circle)
- L2 (Chevy Chase Circle to Calvert St., crossing again at Dupont Circle)
- H2 (Van Ness St. to Porter St.)
- L8 (Aspen Hill to Friendship Heights)
- L7 (Wheaton Station to Friendship Heights)
Ride On
The following Ride OnRide On (bus)
Ride On is the primary public transportation system in Montgomery County, Maryland. Ride On serves Montgomery County as well as the community of Langley Park in Prince George's County...
routes travel along the street (listed from south to north):
- 1, 11 (East West Highway to Chevy Chase Circle)
- 34 (Bel Pre Rd. to Veirs Mill Rd., and later University Blvd. to Knowles Ave.)
- 41 (Bel Pre Rd. to Weller Rd.)
MARC Train
The following MARC TrainMARC Train
MARC , known prior to 1984 as Maryland Rail Commuter Service, is a regional rail system comprising three lines in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration , a Maryland Department of Transportation agency, and is operated under contract...
stop lies on the street:
- Kensington StationKensington StationKensington Station is a railroad passenger station located at 10417 Howard Avenue in Kensington, Maryland, United States. It was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ....