Get to Know D.C. Architecture

You may have heard the name Harry Wardman (as in Wardman Park hotel), and I know you recognize this classic D.C. rowhome style.

In the early 20th century, real estate developer Harry Wardman built 3,000 residential homes across the district. The vast majority of them were rowhomes like the ones above, built to accommodate D.C.’s rapidly growing population of middle-income government employees. Wardman was said to have housed 10% of D.C.’s population by 1925. 

These were the first “semi-suburban” homes in D.C., and they let families have a yard and porch while still being close to work. Wardman insisted on quality and longevity of the homes and would usually make less than $200 per home built.

Many of these homes still exist in Columbia Heights, Bloomingdale, and Brightwood, although many inferior “copycat Wardman’s” now exist as well. Thankfully, there’s a way to check.