Tenleytown
Tenleytown is the historic name for a neighborhood in northwest
Washington, DC. It is the second oldest neighborhood in Washington, being surpassed in age only by
Georgetown. Additionally, Tenleytown shares the highest point in the city with neighboring
American University Park at 410 feet (the city's lowest point,
Potomac River is 1 ft. above
sea level).
In
1790, the area was called Tennally's Town, named after resident John Tennally and his tavern. The area became known as Tenleytown in the 19th century, although the spelling
Tennallytown was also in use for some time, as
photographs of
streetcars will attest.
Tenleytown houses Fort Reno, one of a ring of forts built to protect Washington DC from invasion during the Civil War. After the war, the fort was dismantled and is now a federal park which hosts a summer concert series of local bands.
Tenleytown and adjacent
American University Park are serviced by the
Tenleytown-AU stop on the
Washington Metro Red Line. The mostly residential area acts as the "town" for
American University, and a shuttle runs from the Metro stop to the main campus. The neighborhood is centered on Tenley Circle.
Tenleytown was predominantly
African-American until the mid-20th century. Since then, many white residents have moved into the area from
Anacostia, which has since become predominantly African American. Tenleytown is home to one of the largest public high schools in the District:
Woodrow Wilson Senior High School. It is the location of some major independent schools, such as
Sidwell Friends School and
Georgetown Day School.
Tenleytown was transformed in 1941 when Sears Roebuck opened its department store on Wisconsin Avenue. The building later became Hechinger's and recently a mixed-use development complex, with luxury condos, a
Best Buy,
Container Store, and an
Ace Hardware.
*
Tenleytown Neighborhood Associaiton*
Tenleytown Historical Society
