Tenley Circle facts for kids
Panoramic view of Tenley Circle in 2007
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| Namesake | John Tenally, later shortened to Tenley |
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| Type | Traffic circle |
| Owner | District of Columbia |
| Maintained by | DDOT, National Park Service |
| Location | Tenleytown, Washington, D.C. |
| Nearest metro station |  Tenleytown–AU |
| Coordinates | 38°56′46″N 77°4′44″W / 38.94611°N 77.07889°W |
Tenley Circle is a special traffic circle located in the northwest part of Washington, D.C.. It sits in the neighborhood called Tenleytown. This circle is where three important roads meet: Nebraska Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and Yuma Street.
What makes Tenley Circle different from many other circles in Washington is how traffic moves. Instead of all cars going around the circle, the main road, Wisconsin Avenue, actually goes straight through the middle. This helps traffic flow more smoothly.
What is Tenley Circle Like?
Tenley Circle is surrounded by some important buildings. You can see St. Ann Catholic Church, which is a large stone church. There is also American University's Washington College of Law. Another building is the Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church.
This circle is a very important place for getting around. Many Metrobus routes have stops here. These buses help people travel all over the city. Just one block north of the circle is the Tenleytown–AU Metro station. From there, you can catch a free shuttle bus to the main campus of American University.
A Look at Tenley Circle's History
Back in the late 1800s, much of Northwest Washington was mostly countryside. Wisconsin Avenue was one of the few big roads. People sometimes called it "the Tenley Road."
In 1902, a group called the D.C. Park Commission suggested building a traffic circle where Wisconsin and Nebraska Avenues met. This idea was part of a report to the United States Senate Committee on the District of Columbia.
By 1926, cars were having accidents because they followed streetcar tracks through the center of the circle. The circle wasn't paved yet. So, officials decided to pave Wisconsin Avenue right through the middle. This left grassy areas on each side.
On May 27, 1927, the city officially named the circle. They named it after John Tenley. He was a local resident and tavern owner from the 1700s. The neighborhood around the circle, Tenleytown, is also named after him.
What's Next for Tenley Circle?
The National Park Service held a competition in 2016. It was called "Memorials for the Future." Tenley Circle was suggested as a possible spot for a new national memorial.
Since 2017, a company called Sunrise Senior Living has been talking with the Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church. They also talk with people living in the neighborhood. They want to build a four-story building for assisted living on an empty lot near the circle. An assisted living facility is a place where older adults can live and get help with daily tasks if they need it.
