Engine Company 23, Fire station and historic structure located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Engine Company 23 is a small red brick firehouse built in 1910 near George Washington University that displays Renaissance Revival style architecture. The building measures approximately 35 feet (11 meters) wide and 90 feet (27 meters) deep, featuring a unique stacked layout where fire engines line up one behind the other.
The building was designed in 1910 by architects Hornblower & Marshall and was the last firehouse in the city to use horses to pull fire engines. In 1940, the city attempted to sell the station, but neighborhood residents protested successfully to preserve its continued operation.
Engine Company 23 carries the name of a historic fire unit and serves the neighborhood as more than just an emergency service. The building functions as a community gathering place where locals have found help and shelter for generations, making it a cornerstone of daily life in the area.
The station is located near George Washington University on G Street and is easily visible when visiting the area. Visitors can view the exterior architecture and historic design from the street, though the building continues to operate as an active firehouse.
The firehouse is the smallest in all of Washington, D.C., and features spiral staircases that originally prevented horses from accessing the hayloft above. A tall watchtower, about 60 feet high, once served to dry cotton canvas fire hoses after they were used.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
