Welcome to
Historic Chevy Chase DC
HCCDC is celebrating its 30th year as a nonprofit historical society conducting research and documenting the history, design architecture, landscape, streetscape and development of Chevy Chase DC, a lovely circa-1907 community in Northwest Washington DC.
We have captured more than 32 oral histories of our residents, conducted a rigorous research study of the community’s desire for a Historic District, organize history-related talks and events and conduct a popular Historic Walking Tour every September, among many other activities. We welcome your involvement and interest!
Our Projects
HCCDC’s initiative to recognize the history of Black landowners forced out in 1928 to create Lafayette Park includes a plan to rename the park to Lafayette-Pointer Park. The letter above was written in 1829 by George Pointer, a slave who bought his own freedom at age 17 and whose descendants settled on Broad Branch.
House Histories
HCCDC’s online archives hold a growing collection of social and architectural histories of Chevy Chase DC houses, including Pam and Carl Lankowski’s 1919 kit house on McKinley Street.
Events
No Events
Latest News
Listen to Recording of “The Marquis de Lafayette & George Pointer”
Joined in Ideology, and Now in a Park Several dozen neighbors joined the latest installment of HCCDC’s “Race Matters Locally” series on Oct. 15 to explore the connection between George Pointer and the Marquis de Lafayette. These two names will be joined by a hyphen when the Lafayette Park and Recreation Center on Broad Branch …
Listen to Recording of “The Marquis de Lafayette & George Pointer”Read More
Mapping Segregation: Illustrating Systemic Racism’s Imprint on DC
Sept. 24 Zoom Recording Now Available
Mapping Segregation: Illustrating Systemic Racism’s Imprint on DCRead More
“Jim Crow Comes to Chevy Chase,” Webinar Recording Available
Watch the Video Here! Technology Glitch Prevented Many From Tuning In Live We are pleased to post the recording of the in-demand Zoom webinar held Sept. 16 that explores the little-known history of racial displacement that occurred in Chevy Chase nearly 100 years ago to the descendants of enslaved man George Pointer. It was the …
“Jim Crow Comes to Chevy Chase,” Webinar Recording AvailableRead More
DC Council Hears Testimony Sept. 15 about Renaming Lafayette Park
The DC City Council heard testimony Sept. 15 on a proposed bill to rename Lafayette Park to Lafayette-Pointer Park and Recreation Center in honor of a Black community evicted from the site so a Whites-only school and park could be built there. In addition to Historic Chevy Chase DC board members who presented testimony was …
DC Council Hears Testimony Sept. 15 about Renaming Lafayette ParkRead More
Historic Chevy Chase DC: A Chronicle and Assessment of a Citizens Initiative
HCCDC President Carl Lankowski’s look back over 30 years of modern local history starts with a quote from one of the organization’s founders. “Historic Chevy Chase DC was founded as a way to document the historic significance of the Chevy Chase DC neighborhood, a community comprised of a variety of architectural styles, neighborhoods, and cultures, bringing together both the east and west sides of Connecticut Avenue as a community of historical interest.” — William West Hopper
Historic Chevy Chase DC: A Chronicle and Assessment of a Citizens InitiativeRead More
NEW! Read about the latest intrigues of Chevy Chase DC’s past in Cate Toups Atkinson’s most recent blog post. Reach her at cate.atkinson@gmail.com
The Mystery of Conjoined Houses in the 3800 Block of Legation Street NW
Why was this wing added to join these two houses a century ago? Undoubtedly it was designed to deal with the socially awkward problem of a dependent divorcee.
Continue Reading The Mystery of Conjoined Houses in the 3800 Block of Legation Street NW
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An annual contribution of just $25 a year supports our valuable work.
