Petworth is an older streetcar suburb in upper northwest Washington. It was originally part of a large estate owned by John Tayloe, with the same name.
In the late 19th century, the property, as well as adjoining properties were sold to developers. As the streetcar expanded from downtown, the neighborhood became accessible and large tracts of row homes were developed and the area began to grow rapidly.
Here are three terrific articles about the neighborhood that you should read.
- Petworth, Washington, D.C.: A Place of Porches – New York Times
- Ten Facts You May Not Know About Petworth – DCist
- Petworth: A Decade Later, Much Has Changed – UrbanTurf
And of course, check out all the history and photos we have shared over the years.
What Did Petworth Look Like in the 1930s?
This lovely old photo of Washington shows the Petworth neighorhood from the air in the 1930s. Any idea where this is in Petworth? Also, for those in Petworth who thumb their nose at the suburban dwellers...
Petworth Home Ads from 1926
We posted some cool old maps of Petworth’s development in the early part of the 20th century yesterday. Today, here are some cool ads to go along that. You’re looking at a few ads we found...
Maps of Petworth Development from 1903 to 1919
We love sharing these old maps of Washington. This time, we’re going to share a series of maps of Petworth to show the neighborhood development over several decades. If you live in or near Petworth, you’re...
If Walls Could Talk: Chez Billy in Petworth
I just went to Chez Billy (3815 Georgia Ave. NW) in Petworth for the first time the other day to grab drinks and some dinner with a buddy. I know, I’m late to the game, but...
1921 Map of Petworth
Recognize any places in this map of Petworth? It’s from 1921 and shows a bit of development from the 1907 map that we posted a while back. Make sure you click on it for a detailed...
Cost of Buying a House in the District, 25 Years Ago Today
Look at this old classified advertisement from The Washington Post from exactly 25 years ago. This was printed on Friday, October 21st, 1988 and if you were the one who purchased one of these homes, you probably are...
Petworth Homes Sunday. Price and Location Unequaled!
Want to buy a home in Petworth for $8,950? You could have if you were reading The Washington Post on October 9th, 1927. Here’s an advertisement that proves it.
Randolph Street Homes in 1920
Another great photo from Shorpy … this time showing three homes on Randolph St. NW. Source: Shorpy And, the best part is that the three homes still stand today.
Map of Petworth in 1907
Today is Petworth day. Check out the map of Petworth in 1907. And then look how rural it was to the west. Amazing.
1993 Photos of Engine Company No. 24 in Petworth
These are old, but not really that old. They are from 1993 (but I still find it hard to believe that 1993 was 20 years ago!). You can find a few more of them at the...
Why Is It Named Petworth?
Calling all hipsters! Do you know why it’s called Petworth? We’ll go out on a limb and guess that most of you do not (because we didn’t until we dug up a little history). Back in...
Grant Circle and Petworth in 1916
This is a set of maps from 1916, showing a very different, and sparsely developed Petworth.
Takoma Defeats Petworth in Hotly Contested Game
The good old days of Washington amateur baseball. There were hundreds, if not thousands of articles mentioning match-ups between different neighborhoods. This one from July 23rd, 1900 was especially entertaining. I doubt that a rivalry exists...
Real Estate Investments; Make Your Dreams Come True
Take a look at this real estate investment ad from 1919. Only $6,300 for a home in Petworth! $30,000 for a home at 14th and Euclid? That’s a lot of money back then … I’m sure...
Petworth is Like Omaha
Petworth was not always full of hipsters that resemble Officer Sprinkle (J.L. Sprinkle was such a badass, he was a hipster before being a hipster was even invented). At one time it was rural … yes, rural....
If Walls Could Talk: The Looking Glass Lounge
This next installment of “If Walls Could Talk” will be the Petworth watering hole, The Looking Glass Lounge. This is one of my favorite places for a Sunday afternoon beer, especially in the warmer months, out...
