Strivers' Section Historic District, Historic district in Washington, D.C.
The Strivers' Section Historic District is a residential neighborhood in the northwest part of Washington, D.C., made up of buildings constructed mainly between 1875 and 1925. Its streets are lined with brick rowhouses and apartment buildings representing several architectural styles, including Italianate, Second Empire, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Tudor Revival.
The area was mostly open land until the second half of the 19th century, when new streets and streetcar lines made it easier to develop. After the Civil War, African American families of the rising middle class moved in and shaped the character of the neighborhood over the following decades.
The name "Strivers' Section" was originally used as a mild criticism, suggesting residents were trying too hard to appear successful. Over time, the community claimed it as a source of pride, and today it is seen as a mark of achievement for the African American middle class that built a life here.
The neighborhood sits in the northwest of Washington, D.C., and is easy to reach by public transit. Walking the streets is the best way to take in the historic building fronts and architectural details up close.
Frederick Douglass owned houses in this neighborhood, showing how early it attracted prominent African American residents. Builder Harry Wardman, who shaped much of modern Washington, also constructed some of the district's apartment buildings.
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