Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Historic District, Historic district in Shaw, Washington, D.C.
Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Historic District is a neighborhood area in Shaw that encompasses two internal alleyways located between 9th and 10th Streets and between M and O Streets. It contains 156 contributing buildings constructed between 1833 and 1941, ranging from stately rowhouses to modest residential structures.
The area began taking shape in the 1830s when initial houses were constructed, later developing into a mixed residential neighborhood housing different social classes. The district maintained its historic architecture for over a century, making it a significant record of Washington's urban development.
The walls throughout the area display colorful artworks created as part of a 2015 artistic initiative to showcase local artistic expression. As you walk through the narrow passages, you encounter pieces that reflect the creative spirit of the community.
The area is easy to explore on foot since it forms a small, contained neighborhood with narrow passages separated from vehicle traffic. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow time to observe the many architectural and artistic details visible throughout the alleyways.
One of the most striking features is the contrasting architecture where large elegant houses face the main streets while more modest dwellings hide behind them in the alleyways. This layout reveals how different economic classes lived side by side yet distinctly separated during the 1800s.
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