The DC Guesthouse is at the heart of a thriving community in one of the oldest and most historic residential neighborhoods in the city. We are the first neighborhood north of the downtown business district. Within blocks of the guesthouse are the former homes of famous Americans, grand mansions of a goneby era, and of course, the new DC Convention Center.
Most of the original wood frame houses built in our neighborhood during the early 1800's were razed after the civil war to make way for brick Victorians with "modern" conveniences, like gas lamps. Most of these structures, though modified a bit over time, are still as they were over 125 years ago. In fact, many have been restored to their Victorian splendor, inside and out.
Behind the mansions and large houses was an alley system with stables and lower-class housing with its own vibrant culture. Naylor Court is one of the city's few remaining alley blocks that retains its original configuration and much of its historic character.
Much of the neighborhood's history has been well documented and there is even a walking tour
you can take of the larger Shaw neighborhood, of which we are a part.
One of the best parts of visiting DC is experiencing its vibrant culture - filled with a mixture of Southern hospitality, International flare, and multi-cultural soul.