DC Preservation League

On July 25, 2024, the Historic Preservation Review Board designated the Old Korean Legation (1500 13th Street NW/15 Logan Circle) as a historic #landmark. Today, the Old Korean Legation Museum in Washington D.C. held a ceremony to unveil the new National Register plaque that commemorates the building's designation. This wonderful event celebrated the enduring friendship between Korea and the United States through a unique celebration of mutual history. The former legation building now houses the Old Korean Legation Museum in Washington D.C. and is owned by the Republic of Korea. The nomination is a result of the Korean Americans in Washington, DC: A Historic Context Study, which is being finalized and will soon be available to the public. The landmark nomination was submitted to the Historic Preservation Office earlier this year by the DC Preservation League (DCPL). The Old Korean Legation was initially a private residence designed by Thomas M. Plowman in the Second Empire style and constructed by Joseph Williams in 1877. The United States and Korea established formal diplomatic relations shortly thereafter, in 1882, and the Korean Legation moved into the former residence in 1889. Following Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, a treaty was forced on Korea, resulting in the closure of the Korean Legation that same year. By 1910, Japan had annexed Korea. That same year, a Japanese minister sold the former legation building to a private American citizen. Over the following decades, the closed legation inspired independence activists and the wider Korean diaspora. In 2012, the Republic of Korea purchased the former legation – 107 years after its closure. From 2015 to 2018, Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration restored the property to its 1889 to 1905 appearance. Today, you can visit the Old Korean Legation Museum (located inside the building) by making an online reservation. Learn more about the building on DC Historic Sites: https://lnkd.in/eDNHQ6MV Video courtesy of Zachary Burt.

From the eerie apparitions that wander the hallowed halls of the White House to the tragic specter of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, the nation's capital has a ghostly past that refuses to be forgotten. With tribal histories dating back thousands of years, DC has been home to a variety of residents--many of whom remain buried in the city's limits. This October, DCPL's theme is "Spirits of DC," with events focused on historic properties with storied pasts. To kickstart your fall, join DCPL for historic preservation with a slightly spooky twist. The first event, Vintage Game Night, is scheduled for October 2nd so don't miss out! Visit the website to learn more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/eMzchskN

Don't miss out! There is limited space #available for this year's amazing crab feast. Sign up for this Saturday's #event: https://lnkd.in/ePB-WX_P Join the DC Preservation League and the Capital Pride Alliance for their annual Crab Feast at the historic Washington Canoe Club, one of DC’s most picturesque locations on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River. This event takes place entirely outdoors, with canoes and paddle boards available for adventures on the water.  Date & Time: Saturday, September 28, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm  Tickets: $75 for ages 13+; $25 for kids 12 and under. Includes: all-you-can eat crabs, shrimp, corn on the cob, hot dogs, and ice cream + beer, wine, soda, and water available. Limited seating available: Get your tickets now! Cancellations/Refunds: Requests for refunds will only be considered more than 5 days prior to the event, and transaction fees will be subtracted from the refund total. Cancellations 5 days or less from the event will not be refunded, but the ticket cost can be converted to a tax-deductible donation.  

The DC Preservation League has completed the first draft of The History of #Latino Communities in Washington, DC: A Context Study. Please join DCPL online TOMORROW, September 25th at 12:00 PM for a virtual presentation by architectural historian Heather N. McMahon—the consultant behind the project—who will provide an outline of that history, including associated themes and related sites. There will be opportunities for attendees to comment and ask questions. Once completed, this context study will provide a framework for nominating #historic sites to the National Register of Historic Places that memorialize Latino history in the District of Columbia. This #community meeting is free and open to the public. Funding for this project comes from the National Park Services’ Underrepresented Community Grants Fund, from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The fund supports efforts to identify historic and #cultural resources related to communities that have often been overlooked in traditional #planning and #preservation efforts. Join the Zoom meeting here: https://lnkd.in/e5sC4YNS Or sign up for a link in your inbox tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/edY85eS4

It's time to open up the photo album or dig through your personal archives, because the DC Preservation League (DCPL) needs your assistance! DCPL is working on a project to document the history of the Latino community in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the Latino community is underrepresented in libraries and archives, making images of DC's #Latino community difficult to find. Numerous organizations in the District are beginning to try and fill this gap in historical documentation. DCPL's Latino Context Study will make #research and #documentation related to the rich history and heritage of Latino communities in the city available to the public and researchers. Please contribute today if you have #images that you believe document and portray this history. Please message the account for additional information on how the images will be used and how credit will be given.

LANDMARK UPDATE! On July 25, 2024, the Historic Preservation Review Board designated the Old Korean Legation (1500 13th Street NW/15 Logan Circle) as a historic #landmark. The former legation building now houses the Old Korean Legation Museum in Washington D.C. and is owned by the Republic of Korea. The nomination is a result of the Korean Americans in Washington, DC: A Historic Context Study, which is being finalized and will soon be available to the public. The landmark nomination was submitted to the Historic Preservation Office earlier this year by the DC Preservation League (DCPL). The Old Korean Legation was initially a private residence designed by Thomas M. Plowman in the Second Empire style and constructed by Joseph Williams in 1877. The United States and Korea established formal diplomatic relations shortly thereafter, in 1882, and the Korean Legation moved into the former residence in 1889. Following Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, a treaty was forced on Korea, resulting in the closure of the Korean Legation that same year. By 1910, Japan had annexed Korea. That same year, a Japanese minister sold the former legation building to a private American citizen. Over the following decades, the closed legation inspired independence activists and the wider Korean diaspora. In 2012, the Republic of Korea purchased the former legation – 107 years after its closure. From 2015 to 2018, Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration restored the property to its 1889 to 1905 appearance. Today, you can visit the Old Korean Legation Museum (located inside the building) by making an online reservation. Learn more about the building on DC Historic Sites: https://lnkd.in/eDNHQ6MV Images courtesy of DC Historic Sites, Kim Prothro Williams, and the Huntington Library (Frances B. Johnston).

This past Saturday, the DC Preservation League took an amazing tour of the Rubell Museum led by Hany Hassan and Anna Barbour, of Beyer Blinder Belle. This tour focused on the building's transition from a 20th century school building to a 21st century art museum. Originally designed and constructed as Randall Junior High School, the museum stands as one of the few extant buildings associated with the pre-urban renewal history of Southwest Washington. Listed on both the DC Inventory and the National Register, the building serves as a reminder of the cultural and social role that schools played in the 20th-century development of African American communities. Hany and Anna described the restoration process for the building, which had been exposed to the elements for years and had suffered severe damage. Today, the building retains many of its historic features, including beautiful floors, beams, and brick accents. The Rubell Museum is adaptive reuse at work; an incredible success that benefits both the natural environment and the people who live there. Special thanks to Beyer Blinder Belle for partnering with us on this tour! #AdaptiveReuse #Urban #Environment #Art

LANDMARK UPDATE! On June 27, 2024, the Historic Preservation Review Board designated the former headquarters of Youth Pride, Inc. (1536 U Street NW) as a historic #landmark. Youth Pride, Inc. was an important organization within the Black Power Movement and was funded through the War on Poverty. The organization was established in 1967 by several Black Power activists, including Rufus “Catfish” Mayfield and future DC Mayor Marion Barry. In early 1968, Pride, Inc. moved to the now landmarked 1920 Renaissance Revival style building. In its new headquarters and following the April 1968 uprising, Pride began to focus on Black capitalism in which the organization would train young men and then help them find employment. In 1981, Pride’s federal funding was completely cut off and the organization permanently shut down. The property is now owned by the Center for Community Change Action. This nomination is related to the 20th Century African American Civil Rights Sites in Washington, DC, 1912 - 1974 multiple property document, which was adopted by the Board in October 2021. The property is also featured in The Black Power Movement in Washington, DC, 1966 - 1978 historic context statement, which is being finalized and will soon be available to the public. The landmark nomination was submitted to the Historic Preservation Office earlier this year by the DC Preservation League (DCPL) and the Center for Community Change Action, the property owner. Learn more about this #history on DC Historic Sites: https://lnkd.in/eyDxbKyB Community Change Action is a sister organization of Community Change.

The internet has been buzzing this week after a DC meme account posted a video asserting that DC's #architecture is different (and worse!) than other cities on the East Coast. The reasoning offered: DC is historically poorer than its northern neighbors, and we don’t have properly trained architects. DCPL is here to set the record straight. Yes, DC's architecture has its own character and it's unique from other cities. We have prominent #federal architecture recognized worldwide, distinctive #neighborhoods, and commercial corridors designed by nationally and locally significant #architects (both formally trained and untrained). Read through our most recent article to learn why DC looks the way it does, from early development to the works of local architects. Questions? Leave them in the comments!

DCPL has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service (NPS) to help underwrite costs associated with repairing/replacing the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system at the #Historic Howard Theatre in #WashingtonDC. A temporary chiller is in place to mitigate the existing compromised system.  The Howard Theatre is an important historic resource in Washington, DC, and DCPL is committed to supporting efforts to preserve and enhance this irreplaceable property. This project is critical to ensuring the long-term viability of the landmark’s remaining historic interiors as we experience extreme temperatures. This project will also expand the documentation and the community’s understanding of the Theatre as more than just a music venue—but as a meeting place for 20th Century Civil Rights leaders and activists. Built in 1910, the Howard Theatre is one of the oldest theaters in the country that not only served Black audiences but provided a space for Black performers. For more than five decades of the twentieth century, it stood at the forefront of Black entertainment, providing talent and opportunities on a local and national level. The building was listed in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites in 1973 and in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. However, its documentation does not explore the Theatre’s role in the Black community’s fight for civil rights. As part of the project, the Howard Theatre’s current National Register documentation will be amended to detail the Theatre’s role in African Americans’ struggle for Civil Rights. **This project is funded in part by the African American Civil Rights grant program, through the Historic Preservation Fund, and administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. This grant program focuses on the preservation of sites and stories directly associated with the struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights.** #preservedc #africanamericancivilrights #blackbroadway #historicpreservation #DCMusic #civilrights DC Office of Planning Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development