Embassy Gulf Service Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Embassy Gulf Service Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The service station in winter
Location in Washington, D.C. Show map of Washington, D.C. Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	2200 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Built	1937
Architect	Pierre L. R. Hogner
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	93001014
Added to NRHP	September 30, 1993

The Embassy Gulf Service Station is a cool old gas station in Washington, D.C.. You can find it on P Street, close to Dupont Circle and near the start of the Georgetown area. It was built way back in 1937. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's an important historical building!

What Makes This Gas Station Special?

Another view of the station

In 1936, the Gulf Oil Corporation wanted their gas stations to look different. They asked their architect, P. L. R. Hogner, to design buildings that looked more like fancy banks or libraries. They wanted them to have nice details and materials. The Embassy Gulf Service Station was one of these special designs.

Designing a Unique Building

This gas station was planned to be Gulf Oil's 61st station in Washington, D.C. Its location was very important because it was right next to Rock Creek Park. Because of this, several groups had to check and approve the building's design. These groups included the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Park Service.

The final design for the station was a small building made of grey stone. This stone was similar in color to the church across the street. We don't know for sure if they planned for the two buildings to match, but they certainly look good together!

A Historic Landmark Today

The Embassy Gulf Service Station was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1993. Even though it's old, it's still used for its original purpose! As of 2007, the building works as a car repair shop and a Sunoco gas station. It's a great example of how old buildings can still be useful today.