Neighborhood
Woodley Park
Four embassies call Woodley Park home. The commercial district along Connecticut Avenue welcomes tourists and residents at the Woodley Park Metro station. This stop features numerous restaurants, many offering outdoor dining from April to October. As you stroll through, the air is filled with the inviting aroma of fresh coffee from cozy cafes and the rich scent of blooming flowers from local florists. You can hear the gentle clink of glasses and lively chatter of patrons enjoying their meals on patios. The area also includes a CVS pharmacy, a bank, dry cleaners, a small grocery store, a barber shop, and beauty salons. Nearby, the Washington National Cathedral hosts events throughout the year, including arts classes, bell ringing, and an annual Christmas program open to the public.
Woodley Park's green spaces are enriched by Rock Creek Park, which winds directly through the neighborhood. Its meticulously maintained bike path stretches 25 miles north to a scenic lake in Maryland or 20 miles south along the Potomac River to Mount Vernon. Along the way, cyclists are greeted by the gentle rustle of leaves under the dense tree canopies and the occasional glimpse of deer darting through the underbrush. As you pedal towards the Potomac, the sudden openness unveils stunning river vistas. Beyond the neighborhood, attractions less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C. include the National Aquarium at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the storied United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, the renowned sailing capital of the world.
Turning to Woodley Park's architectural history, in 1918 Harry Wardman designed and built the original Sheraton Hotel, now the Marriott, then called the Wardman Park Hotel. When he announced his plans to build the 1,200-room hotel, Washingtonians dubbed it “Wardman’s Folly” because they thought no one would go to a hotel in what was then considered the countryside. The reverse, however, occurred after the hotel was completed, bringing the city to Woodley Park. In 1928 Wardman added an addition to this grand hotel, naming it the Wardman Towers. In years to come, it served as the senatorial home of Lyndon Johnson, Vice President Spiro Agnew, a spy headquarters for Mata Hari, and housed many more celebrated people.
Wardman’s influence on the neighborhood also extended to his designs for Hampton House and Hampton Arms Apartments. The Hampton House is particularly notable for its elegant brickwork pattern, which adds a distinct texture to the façade. Its graceful entryway reflects Wardman's signature style, combining practicality with an understated elegance that characterizes his architectural contributions to the area.
Adding to the neighborhood’s prestige, the renowned Omni Shoreham Hotel has been a Woodley Park landmark since 1930. As you walk through its grand lobby today, the area is abuzz with guests mingling over a soaring atrium and an intricate mosaic of marble. This celebrated hotel has hosted an inaugural ball and the annual First Ladies Daughters of Congress luncheon. Imagine the grand ballrooms, where chandeliers cast a warm glow over elegantly set tables, evoking a sense of timeless sophistication. It is famed for its Blue Room, where Harry Truman played poker, John F. Kennedy courted Jacqueline Bouvier, and Richard Nixon announced his first cabinet.
Woodley Park's green spaces are enriched by Rock Creek Park, which winds directly through the neighborhood. Its meticulously maintained bike path stretches 25 miles north to a scenic lake in Maryland or 20 miles south along the Potomac River to Mount Vernon. Along the way, cyclists are greeted by the gentle rustle of leaves under the dense tree canopies and the occasional glimpse of deer darting through the underbrush. As you pedal towards the Potomac, the sudden openness unveils stunning river vistas. Beyond the neighborhood, attractions less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C. include the National Aquarium at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the storied United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, the renowned sailing capital of the world.
Turning to Woodley Park's architectural history, in 1918 Harry Wardman designed and built the original Sheraton Hotel, now the Marriott, then called the Wardman Park Hotel. When he announced his plans to build the 1,200-room hotel, Washingtonians dubbed it “Wardman’s Folly” because they thought no one would go to a hotel in what was then considered the countryside. The reverse, however, occurred after the hotel was completed, bringing the city to Woodley Park. In 1928 Wardman added an addition to this grand hotel, naming it the Wardman Towers. In years to come, it served as the senatorial home of Lyndon Johnson, Vice President Spiro Agnew, a spy headquarters for Mata Hari, and housed many more celebrated people.
Wardman’s influence on the neighborhood also extended to his designs for Hampton House and Hampton Arms Apartments. The Hampton House is particularly notable for its elegant brickwork pattern, which adds a distinct texture to the façade. Its graceful entryway reflects Wardman's signature style, combining practicality with an understated elegance that characterizes his architectural contributions to the area.
Adding to the neighborhood’s prestige, the renowned Omni Shoreham Hotel has been a Woodley Park landmark since 1930. As you walk through its grand lobby today, the area is abuzz with guests mingling over a soaring atrium and an intricate mosaic of marble. This celebrated hotel has hosted an inaugural ball and the annual First Ladies Daughters of Congress luncheon. Imagine the grand ballrooms, where chandeliers cast a warm glow over elegantly set tables, evoking a sense of timeless sophistication. It is famed for its Blue Room, where Harry Truman played poker, John F. Kennedy courted Jacqueline Bouvier, and Richard Nixon announced his first cabinet.
