Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions

by John DeFerrari, Douglas Peter Sefton

A richly illustrated architectural "biography" of one of DC's most important boulevards

Sixteenth Street NW in Washington, DC, has been called the Avenue of the Presidents, Executive Avenue, and the Avenue of Churches. From the front door of the White House, this north-south artery runs through the middle of the District and extends just past its border with Maryland. The street is as central to the cityscape as it is to DC's history and culture.

In Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions, John DeFerrari and Douglas Peter Sefton depict the social and architectural history of the street and immediate neighborhoods, inviting readers to explore how the push and pull between ordinary Washingtonians and powerful elites has shaped the corridor—and the city. This highly illustrated book features notable buildings along Sixteenth Street and recounts colorful stories of those who lived, worked, and worshipped there. Maps offer readers an opportunity to create self-guided tours of the places and people that have defined this main thoroughfare over time.

What readers will find is that both then and now, Sixteenth Street NW has been shaped by a diverse array of people and communities. The street, and the book, feature a range of sites—from Black Lives Matter Plaza to the White House, from mansions and rowhomes to apartment buildings, from Meridian Hill (Malcolm X) Park with its drum circles to Rock Creek Park with its tennis tournaments, and from hotels to houses of worship. Sixteenth Street, NW reveals a cross section of Washington, DC, that shows the vibrant makeup of our nation's capital.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

312 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2022

About the author

John DeFerrari was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and has a passion for local history. Trained as a writer, he has a Master's Degree in English Literature from Harvard University. In 2009, DeFerrari began writing about Washington's rich history in his blog, https://streetsofwashington.substack..... His first book, Lost Washington, D.C., was published in 2011 and his latest, Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions, co-authored with Douglas Peter Sefton, recounts often overlooked stories about the diverse buildings and residents of one of the city's most important arteries.

Reviews

[Alex Hendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting history focused on 16th Street that also incorporates larger citywide and national histories. The book is a window into time, and does a great job at showing the historical precedents for the 16th Street we have today. At the same time, it’s a very difficult history to tell well; the book is divided into chapters by time, and each chapter is sometimes divided by north/south geography and other times by interesting vignettes in the street’s history. For a book that focuses heavily on architectural history, it’s hard to tell a compelling story, especially with the limited use of pictures and maps for each section.

Much of the book’s history centers on powerful wealthy and white residents like Mary Foote Henderson who strove to shape the street’s character, often in more exclusionary ways. While it’s clear that the authors favor a high degree of historical preservation, the history they tell seems to call for a relaxation of such regulations to make for a more inclusive city.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good snapshot of the life and development of DC as seen on one street. Mary Henderson certainly is a villain in many ways. Also interesting to witness the churn of wealthy whites pushing poorer Black Americans further out again and again and again.

[Austin MacDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a DC resident reading this felt like going on a walking tour of the city with a smart tour guide. Well organized and lots of good historical photos. Sometimes gets into the weeds on architectural details, but it was neat to read about the neighborhood’s influential residents. Worth a read if you’re into architecture, city planning, or are just one of those people who stops to read every single plaque on the side of the road (guilty as charged)

[Craig Schleicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic history extends beyond architecture

What a great read! It’s a fun and well-structured journey through time that does a great job of contextualizing the impact of broader societal trends on architecture while also providing a detailed window into life in the District at each point in time. I also appreciate that it shines a light on the forces that shaped the street’s character, from the sad history of racial tension and discrimination to the bureaucracy and legislative impacts. Some of the most interesting portions of the book were the insights into the lives and personalities of the people who lived there - both famous and everyday. A really, really well-done book that is more than worth checking out for anyone with a connection to the District.

[Julia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool concept relating events and buildings on 16th Street to the wider history of DC, but very architecture heavy and so many short, very detailed disjointed stories that lead to a lot of tangents. The organization was also hard to follow - jumped around from dates/people/geography. Overall not the DC history book I was looking for

[Kimberly Hauge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be a great book for a historian, otherwise the first half was a little hard for me to get through. Loved learning in general about the history of the street I live on.

[Ashwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that has deepened my knowledge and appreciation of my wonderful street as well as the history of DC.