Wisconsin Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Encyclopedia
Wisconsin Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Washington, D.C.
, and its Maryland
suburbs. It starts in Georgetown
just north of the Potomac River
, at an intersection with K Street under the Whitehurst Freeway. The section of Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown was called High Street before the street name
s in Georgetown were changed
in 1895 to conform to those of the L'Enfant
plan for the federal city (although Georgetown predates the planned capital
by half a century).
From the Georgetown riverfront, Wisconsin Avenue climbs steeply north through Northwest D.C. (see picture above), through often congested, slow-moving traffic squeezed into just two travel lanes, with parked vehicles continuously filling both curb lanes. The Avenue then passes through the neighborhoods of Glover Park
, Cathedral Heights
(next to the Washington National Cathedral
), Cleveland Park
, Tenleytown
and Friendship Heights
with its several broadcasting towers. While in Friendship Heights, Wisconsin Avenue intersects with Western Avenue (which forms much of the Northwest border of Washington, D.C.) and then crosses into Montgomery County
, Maryland
. In Maryland, it is officially known as Maryland Route 355
. Wisconsin Avenue then passes through Bethesda
, where it is one of the main streets of the downtown area. Southbound traffic on Wisconsin Avenue can bypass downtown Bethesda by taking Woodmont Avenue.
Just north of downtown Bethesda, at the intersection with Glenbrook Parkway, its name changes to "Rockville Pike". Rockville Pike runs along the National Institutes of Health
campus
, the United States National Library of Medicine
, and the National Naval Medical Center
and has an incomplete interchange with the Capital Beltway
at exit 34. The Pike then runs through North Bethesda
into Rockville
, which is the county seat
of Montgomery County. This part of Rockville Pike is home to many strip mall
s, as well as White Flint Mall
, and is notorious for its traffic congestion
.
Near the center of Rockville, the name changes to "Hungerford Drive" for a short while. In the outskirts of Rockville, the name changes to "Frederick Road". However, in the city of Gaithersburg
, the road is known as South Frederick Avenue south of Diamond Avenue in downtown, and North Frederick Avenue north of Diamond Avenue. Upon leaving Gaithersburg city limits, the name returns to Frederick Road, which continues through the unincorporated communities of Germantown and Clarksburg
, both rapidly developing suburbs. Upon entering Frederick County
and the unincorporated community of Urbana
, the road is known as "Urbana Pike". It ends at U.S. Highway 15, just north of the city of Frederick
, which is the county seat. In downtown Frederick, the route is known as "Market Street".
in use in Montgomery County, a Cartesian coordinate plane with its origin at the United States Capitol
. Within the city limits of Rockville, however, the origin of the numbering system is at the center of Rockville. Thus, someone driving north on the Pike sees building numbers above 12000 and rising, which suddenly give way to building numbers below 2000 and falling.
In Gaithersburg, the numbering direction changes twice. Addresses on South Frederick Avenue increase from zero as one travels south from Diamond Avenue, and only reach the hundreds by the southern city boundary. On North Frederick Avenue, the numbers similarly increase from zero as one travel to the north. As one leaves Gaithersburg to the north, the building numbers change back to the county's Capitol-based system.
station north, Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike/Route 355 runs approximately parallel to the Red Line
of the Washington Metro
. North of the Capital Beltway until Frederick (at the Interstate 70
junction), the highway runs parallel to Interstate 270
, which handles express traffic through Montgomery and southern Frederick counties.
Georgetown-Union Station route travels along the street:
routes travel along the street (listed from south to north):
stops lie near the street:
as an arterial route from M Street to the Beltway and as an intermodal connector from the Beltway to the Grosvenor Metro station
.
In 1864, General Jubal A. Early
marched down this road from Monocacy Junction in an attempt to take Washington, D.C.
that ended in the Battle of Fort Stevens
.
Wisconsin Avenue was once U.S. Highway 240. Outside of the Beltway, U.S. Highway 240 was relocated to what is today Interstate 270. Eventually, the entire route designation was decommissioned.
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 its Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
suburbs. It starts in Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
just north of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, at an intersection with K Street under the Whitehurst Freeway. The section of Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown was called High Street before the street name
Street name
A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a street. The street name usually forms part of the address...
s in Georgetown were changed
Georgetown street renaming
The Georgetown street renaming occurred as a result of an 1895 act of the United States Congress that ended even the nominal independence of Georgetown from Washington, D.C. The Act required, inter alia, that the street names in Georgetown be changed to conform to the street naming system in use...
in 1895 to conform to those of the L'Enfant
Pierre Charles L'Enfant
Pierre Charles L'Enfant was a French-born American architect and civil engineer best known for designing the layout of the streets of Washington, D.C..-Early life:...
plan for the federal city (although Georgetown predates the planned capital
History of Washington, D.C.
The history of Washington, D.C. is tied to its role as the capital of the United States. Originally inhabited by an Algonquian-speaking people known as the Nacotchtank, the site of the District of Columbia along the Potomac River was originally selected by President George Washington. The city came...
by half a century).
Route
From the Georgetown riverfront, Wisconsin Avenue climbs steeply north through Northwest D.C. (see picture above), through often congested, slow-moving traffic squeezed into just two travel lanes, with parked vehicles continuously filling both curb lanes. The Avenue then passes through the neighborhoods of Glover Park
Glover Park
Glover Park is a neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C., about a half mile north of Georgetown and just west of the United States Naval Observatory and Number One Observatory Circle...
, Cathedral Heights
Cathedral Heights
Cathedral Heights is a small, residential neighborhood located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. It is approximately bounded by Woodley Road to the north, Fulton Street to the south, Wisconsin Avenue to the east, and Glover Archbold Park and Idaho Avenue to the...
(next to the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
), 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...
, Tenleytown
Tenleytown
Tenleytown is a historic neighborhood in Northwest, Washington, DC.-History:In 1790, Washington locals began calling the neighborhood "Tennally's Town" after area tavern owner John Tennally...
and Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights is a residential neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. and southern Montgomery County, Maryland. Though its borders are not clearly defined, Friendship Heights consists roughly of the neighborhoods and commercial areas around Wisconsin Avenue north of Fessenden Street NW and...
with its several broadcasting towers. While in Friendship Heights, Wisconsin Avenue intersects with Western Avenue (which forms much of the Northwest border of Washington, D.C.) and then crosses into Montgomery County
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...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. In Maryland, it is officially known as Maryland Route 355
Maryland Route 355
Maryland Route 355 is a north–south road in western central Maryland in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Washington, D.C. border in Friendship Heights, Montgomery County, where it continues south as Wisconsin Avenue into Washington. The northern terminus is...
. Wisconsin Avenue then passes through Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, where it is one of the main streets of the downtown area. Southbound traffic on Wisconsin Avenue can bypass downtown Bethesda by taking Woodmont Avenue.
Just north of downtown Bethesda, at the intersection with Glenbrook Parkway, its name changes to "Rockville Pike". Rockville Pike runs along the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
campus
National Institutes of Health campus
The National Institutes of Health campus is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Most of the institutes house their Divisions of Intramural Research on this campus spread out among various buildings.-Location:...
, the United States National Library of Medicine
United States National Library of Medicine
The United States National Library of Medicine , operated by the United States federal government, is the world's largest medical library. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the NLM is a division of the National Institutes of Health...
, and the National Naval Medical Center
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
and has an incomplete interchange 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 34. The Pike then runs through North Bethesda
North Bethesda, Maryland
North Bethesda is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It borders the city of Rockville, and is closely associated with the city.-Geography:...
into Rockville
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
, which is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Montgomery County. This part of Rockville Pike is home to many strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
s, as well as White Flint Mall
White Flint Mall
White Flint Mall is an upscale shopping mall along Rockville Pike in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is known for its numerous restaurants, including P.F. Chang's China Bistro, The Cheesecake Factory, Dave & Buster's, and Bertucci's.-History:...
, and is notorious for its traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
.
Near the center of Rockville, the name changes to "Hungerford Drive" for a short while. In the outskirts of Rockville, the name changes to "Frederick Road". However, in the city of Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
, the road is known as South Frederick Avenue south of Diamond Avenue in downtown, and North Frederick Avenue north of Diamond Avenue. Upon leaving Gaithersburg city limits, the name returns to Frederick Road, which continues through the unincorporated communities of Germantown and Clarksburg
Clarksburg, Maryland
Clarksburg is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Northern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located along the Interstate 270 technology corridor about 4 miles north of Germantown, MD. As of Census 2010 its population is 13,766....
, both rapidly developing suburbs. Upon entering Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
and the unincorporated community of Urbana
Urbana, Maryland
Urbana is an unincorporated community located in southern Frederick County, Maryland. It lies at the I-270/MD 80 interchange, about southeast of Frederick.-History:The Urbana area was first settled in 1730....
, the road is known as "Urbana Pike". It ends at U.S. Highway 15, just north of the city of Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, which is the county seat. In downtown Frederick, the route is known as "Market Street".
Building numbering
One aspect of Rockville Pike that confuses many motorists is the system of assigning building numbers. In unincorporated areas of the county, building numbers are assigned according to the addressing systemAddress (geography)
An address is a collection of information, presented in a mostly fixed format, used for describing the location of a building, apartment, or other structure or a plot of land, generally using political boundaries and street names as references, along with other identifiers such as house or...
in use in Montgomery County, a Cartesian coordinate plane with its origin at the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. Within the city limits of Rockville, however, the origin of the numbering system is at the center of Rockville. Thus, someone driving north on the Pike sees building numbers above 12000 and rising, which suddenly give way to building numbers below 2000 and falling.
In Gaithersburg, the numbering direction changes twice. Addresses on South Frederick Avenue increase from zero as one travels south from Diamond Avenue, and only reach the hundreds by the southern city boundary. On North Frederick Avenue, the numbers similarly increase from zero as one travel to the north. As one leaves Gaithersburg to the north, the building numbers change back to the county's Capitol-based system.
Parallel transportation
From the Tenleytown-AUTenleytown-AU (Washington Metro)
Tenleytown-AU is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in Washington, D.C. Located in the Upper Northwest neighborhood, it is the last station on the Red Line heading outbound wholly within the District of Columbia; the next stop, Friendship Heights, lies within the...
station north, Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike/Route 355 runs approximately parallel to the Red Line
Red 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...
. North of the Capital Beltway until Frederick (at the Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
junction), the highway runs parallel to Interstate 270
Interstate 270 (Maryland)
Interstate 270 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Maryland that travels between Interstate 495 just north of Bethesda, Montgomery County and Interstate 70 in the city of Frederick in Frederick County. It consists of the mainline as well as a spur that provides access to and...
, which handles express traffic through Montgomery and southern Frederick counties.
Metrorail
Metrorail stations on or near Wisconsin Avenue include:- Tenleytown-AUTenleytown-AU (Washington Metro)Tenleytown-AU is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in Washington, D.C. Located in the Upper Northwest neighborhood, it is the last station on the Red Line heading outbound wholly within the District of Columbia; the next stop, Friendship Heights, lies within the...
- Friendship HeightsFriendship Heights (Washington Metro)Friendship Heights is a Washington Metro station straddling the border of Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on August 25, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ....
- BethesdaBethesda (Washington Metro)Bethesda is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on August 25, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Providing service for the Red Line, the station serves downtown Bethesda and is below...
- Medical CenterMedical Center (Washington Metro)Medical Center is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on August 25, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
- Grosvenor-StrathmoreGrosvenor-Strathmore (Washington Metro)Grosvenor – Strathmore is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in North Bethesda, Maryland...
- White FlintWhite Flint (Washington Metro)White Flint is an island platformed Washington Metro station in North Bethesda, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on December 15, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
- TwinbrookTwinbrook (Washington Metro)Twinbrook is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in Rockville, Maryland. One of a number of stations on the Rockville Pike corridor, it primarily acts as a commuter station.-Location:...
- RockvilleRockville (Washington Metro)Rockville is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Rockville, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on December 15, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Providing service for the Red Line, the station is located in downtown Rockville at...
- Shady GroveShady Grove (Washington Metro)Shady Grove is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Derwood, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on December 15, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Serving as the northwestern terminus of the Red Line, it is the station most distant...
Metrobus
The following Metrobus routes travel along the street (listed from south to north):- 31, 32, 36 (Western Ave. to M St. NW) via the Pennsylvania Avenue LinePennsylvania Avenue Line (Washington)The Pennsylvania Avenue Line, served by Routes 32 and 36 is a Metrobus bus route in Washington, D.C., United States...
- 37 (Limited stop service from Western Ave. to Massachusetts Ave.)
- J7 (I-270 to Bethesda station)
- J2, J3 (Cedar Lane to East-West Highway)
- J9 (I-270 to Woodmont Ave.)
- J1 (Cedar Lane to Jones Bridge Rd.)
- J5 (Nicholson La. to I-495)
- Q2 (Shady Grove station to Veirs Mill Rd.)
DC Circulator
The D.C. Circulator'sDC Circulator
The DC Circulator is a bus system in Washington, D.C. The system is a public-private partnership between the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and DC Surface Transit, Inc., operated by First Transit.The concept of a separate...
Georgetown-Union Station route travels along the street:
- West from K StK 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:...
to 34th St.) - East from 34th St to M StM Street (Washington, D.C.)The name "M Street" refers to two major roads in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. Because of the Cartesian-coordinate-based street-naming system in Washington, the name M Street can be used to refer to any east-west street located twelve blocks north or south of the dome of the United...
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):
- 42 (Medical Center station to Western Ave.)
- 34 (Cedar Lane to Woodmont Ave., and later Bethesda station to Western Ave.)
- 33 (Medical Center station to Chestnut Ave., crossing again at Bethesda station)
- 46 (Rockville station to Medical Center station)
- 30 (Pooks Hill Rd. to Medical Center station)
- 6 (Strathmore Ave. to Grosvenor La.)
- 5 (Old Georgetown Rd.—Rockville—to Strathmore Ave.)
- 38 (Montrose Rd. to Nicholson La.)
- 81 (Rockville station to Wootton Pkwy.)
- 45 (College Pkwy. to Rockville station)
- 55 (Shakespeare Blvd. to Travis Ave., and later Odenhal Ave. to Rockville station)
- 59 (Odenhal Ave. to W. Diamond Ave., and later Deer Park Rd. to Shady Grove station)
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...
stops lie near the street:
- RockvilleRockville (Washington Metro)Rockville is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Rockville, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on December 15, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Providing service for the Red Line, the station is located in downtown Rockville at...
- GaithersburgGaithersburg (MARC station)Gaithersburg is a historic passenger rail station on the MARC Brunswick Line between Washington, D.C. and Martinsburg, WV...
Place in the National Highway System
Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike is part of the National Highway SystemNational 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...
as an arterial route from M Street to the Beltway and as an intermodal connector from the Beltway to the Grosvenor Metro station
Grosvenor-Strathmore (Washington Metro)
Grosvenor – Strathmore is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in North Bethesda, Maryland...
.
History
Wisconsin Avenue follows the route of an ancient Native American trail. Between 1805 and 1820, it was reconstructed into a toll road to carry tobacco and other products between Georgetown and Frederick. Starting around 1920, various sections of the road have been paved and widened to two, four and as many as six lanes.In 1864, General Jubal A. Early
Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served under Stonewall Jackson and then Robert E. Lee for almost the entire war, rising from regimental command to lieutenant general and the command of an infantry corps in the Army of Northern Virginia...
marched down this road from Monocacy Junction in an attempt to take Washington, D.C.
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....
that ended in the Battle of Fort Stevens
Battle of Fort Stevens
The Battle of Fort Stevens was an American Civil War battle fought July 11–12, 1864, in Northwest Washington, D.C., as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 between forces under Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early and Union Maj. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook. Although Early caused consternation...
.
Wisconsin Avenue was once U.S. Highway 240. Outside of the Beltway, U.S. Highway 240 was relocated to what is today Interstate 270. Eventually, the entire route designation was decommissioned.