National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, D.C. facts for kids

Washington, D.C. is a city rich in history, and many of its buildings, parks, and neighborhoods are recognized as important historic sites. This article will tell you about the places in D.C. that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are over 600 such listings, including 74 special places called National Historic Landmarks. These landmarks are considered super important to the history of the United States.

Exploring D.C.'s Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list kept by the U.S. government. It helps protect and celebrate places that are important to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. When a place is on this list, it means it has a unique story to tell about our past.

How D.C. Organizes Its Historic Sites

Washington, D.C., is divided into four main sections called quadrants: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). To make it easier to explore, the historic places in D.C. are often grouped by these quadrants.

The Northwest Quadrant has the most historic listings, with over 400! Because it's so big, it's divided into three smaller parts for this list:

• Central Washington: This area includes parts of the Northwest Quadrant closest to the National Mall and the Southwest Quadrant. It has about 218 historic sites.
• Western NW Quadrant: This part of Northwest D.C. has around 123 historic places.
• Upper NW Quadrant: Another section of Northwest D.C. with about 213 historic sites.

The other quadrants also have many important places:

• Northeast Quadrant: Home to about 64 historic listings.
• Southeast Quadrant: Features around 40 historic sites.

Special Places Not on the List

You might be surprised to learn that some of D.C.'s most famous buildings, like the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the U.S. Supreme Court Building, are not officially listed on the National Register. Even though they are super important and recognized as National Historic Landmarks, a special law from 1966 says they don't need to be on the list to be protected. They are already considered national treasures!

Images for kids

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  Peirce Mill, a historic gristmill in the Northwest quadrant.

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  The Titanic Memorial, located in the Southwest quadrant.

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  The historic columns at the U.S. National Arboretum in the Northeast quadrant.

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  Christ Church, Washington Parish, a historic church in the Southeast quadrant.