b. At the Steamboat Docks Passengers arriving in Washington by any of the Potomac River steamboat lines are landed at the wharves at the foot of 7th St. S. W., almost two miles S. of the residential section. There are, however, several electric car lines running N., the most convenient being the 7th St. line marked "Chevy Chase," which brings the visitor in a few minutes' run to Pennsylvania Ave., where he may transfer E. or W. to the hotel of his choice. C. Division of Material in This Guide Book To aid the traveller in the use of this guide, Washington has been divided into the following sections: 1. Washington Northwest-The Central Section, embracing that portion of Washington Northwest included between the Capitol and the White House, and containing the principal business centres, the leading theatres and a majority of the hotels frequented by transient visitors; 2. Washington Northwest-The Residential Section, including in a comprehensive way all the district N. and W. of the White House, and containing the homes of prominent Washingtonians, the foreign Embassies and Legations and the prominent social clubs; 3. Washington Southwest and the Mall, the latter the oldest and most important unit in the city's system of parkways, and containing, with the sole exception of the Corcoran Gallery, all the important art collections and museums (the rest of Washington Southwest, except for Washington's most extensive playground, Potomac Park, on its western boundary, is a rather dreary waste of old-fashioned dwellings, warehouses, railway tracks and wharves); 4. Washington Northeast, containing the homes of the thrifty middle class, but with little of the first importance to attract the casual tourist save the Union Station through which he arrives and departs; 5. Washington Southeast, of much the same general character, its one important building being the Library of Congress; 6. the Northern and Western Suburbs, particularly Georgetown; 7. the important Virginia Suburbs, particularly Mt. Vernon and Alexandria. II. Hotels and Other Accommodations a. General Information In Washington the great majority of hotels are run on the European plan, and there are comparatively few where a fixed weekly rate for room and meals may be obtained. In fact, there are few hotels that make any reduction by the week or month in their charges for rooms. In choosing a hotel the visitor naturally considers the two questions of expense and location. The most expensive hotels are all situated on or near the upper end of Pennsylvania Ave., within a few squares of the White House. Moderate priced hotels, however, may be found in this section as well as in the lower Pennsylvania Ave. and Capitol grounds neighborhoods. The problem of location depends, as in other cities, upon the length of the visitor's proposed stay, and the purpose of his visit, whether for business, for social reasons or merely for sightseeing. For a prolonged stay, there are obvious advantages in being near the residential section; but for the tourist with only a few days at his disposal, location in Washington makes far less difference than in most cities of similar size. A large majority of the hotels extend along the scant mile-and-a-half stretch separating the Capitol and the White House, or cluster around these two extremes; the principal sights of the city are similarly distributed, and in almost equal proportions; and whichever location is chosen, the intervening length of Pennsylvania Ave. must be traversed many times. The visitor who is a good pedestrian will find that a hotel at some midway point offers the advantage of being within practical walking distance of the great majority of points he wishes to visit. For further general information regarding American hotels, the stranger in this country is referred to Rider's New York City. b. Large and Expensive Hotels of the First Rank *New Willard. (Pl. I—A2) N. W. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 14th St. (378 R.) The oldest and most widely known of the large hotels, and, like its predecessor, the Old Willard, much patronized by members of Congress. Vice-President Coolidge resides here. For description see pp. 110, 149. (R. Single $3. With B. $5. Double $5. With B. $7. Suites $17 up.) (See restaurants, p. 8.) *Shoreham. (Pl. II-D4) N. E. cor. 15th and H Sts. (250 R.) For description/see p. 230. (R. Single $3. With B. $5. Double $5. With B. $7.) (See restaurants, p. 8.) *Washington. (Pl. I—A2) N. E. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 15th St. (500 R. 500 B.) (R. Single with B. $5. Double with B. $8. Suites $20 up.) (See restaurants, p. 8.) Raleigh. (Pl. I-B2) N. E. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 12th St. (450 R.) Patronized by Government officials and foreign diplomats. For description see p. 106. (R. Single $3. With B. $4. Double $4. *Wardman Park Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and Woodley Road. (1500 R. 1500 B.) Suburban residential hotel, overlooking Rock Creek Park. Largely patronized by Congressmen, Government Executives and foreign diplomats. Prices on application. C. Eastern Section: Capitol Grounds Vicinity Congress Hall. (Pl. I-E4) New Jersey Ave. betw. B and C Sts. S. E. (225 R.) For description see p. 405. (R. Single $2.50. With B. $3. Double $4. With B. $5. Suites $6 up. American plan: Meals $3 per day.) $4. Potomac. (Pl. I-E4) N. W. cor. New Jersey Ave. and C St. S. E. (75 R.) For description see p. 405. (European plan: R. Single $2. With B. $4. Double $3. With B. $4.50. American plan: R. Single With B. $5. Double $7. With B. $9.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) George Washington Inn. (Pl. I-E4) S. W. cor. New Jersey Ave. and C St. S. E. (100 R.) (R. Single $2. With B. $2.50. Double $3. With B. $3.50. Suites $6.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) Driscoll. (Pl. I-E3) N. E. cor. B and 1st Sts. N. W. (105 R.) Faces the Capitol Grounds. (R. Single $1.50 up. With B. $4. Double $3.50 up. With B. $6. Suites $9. Weekly rates upon application. American plan: $4 up per day.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) New Winston. 1st St. betw. Pennsylania Ave. and B St. N. W. (90 R.) (European plan: R. Single $2. With B. $2.50. Double $3. With B. $4. American plan: Two meals $1.25; Three meals $2 per day in addition to price of room.) With B. $3. St. cor F St. (175 R.) Double $3. Capitol Park. (Pl. I-E2) North Capitol and E Sts. (150 R.) Conveniently near the Union Station. (R. Single $2.50. Double $4. With B. $5. With twin beds $6.) Continental. (Pl. I-E2) North Capitol Faces on Union Station Plaza (R. Single $2. With B. $5.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) d. Central Section: Pennsylvania Avenue National. (Pl. I-C3) N. E. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 6th St. (300 R.) An historic old house that has entertained many famous people. For history see p. 100. (R. Single $2. With B. $3. Double $3. With B. $5. Suites $6 up.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) St. James. (Pl. I-C3) S. E. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 6th St. (126 R.) For description see p. 100. (R. Single $1.50 up. With B. $4. Double $4. With B. $5. Suites $5 to $7.) (See restaurants, p. 7.) Howard. S. W. cor. Pennsylvania Ave. and 6th St. application. Rates upon Double $3. Metropolitan. (Pl. I-C3) 615 Pennsylvania Ave. (175 R.) For description see p. 100. (R. Single $1.50 up. With B. $3. With B. $6.) S. E. cor. 11th and E Sts. (R. Single Double $4. With B. $5. With twin beds $6.) Harrington. (Pl. I-B2) $2.50. With B. $3.50. (See restaurants, p. 8.) Sterling. (Pl. I-A2) S. E. cor. Single $2. With B. $3. Double $3. p. 8.) 13th and E Sts. (100 R.) (R. With B. $4.) (See restaurants, New Ebbitt. (Pl. I-A2) S. E. cor. 14th and F Sts. (p. 149.) (R. Single $2. With B. $3.50. R. Double $4. With B. $6.) (See restaurants p. 8.) Occidental. (Pl. I—A2) 1411 Pennsylvania Ave. (R. Single $2 up. With B. $3 up. e. Residential Section Lafayette. (Pl. II-C3) S. E. cor. 16th and I Sts. (200 R. 200 B.) (R. Single with B. $4 and $5. Double with B. $6 to $8.) taurants p. 8.) Bellevue. (See res (Pl. II-D3) N. E. cor. 15th and I Sts. (R. Single $2. With B. $3. Double $3. With B. $5.) (102 R.) (150 R.) Suites Franklin Square. (Pl. II-D3) N. W. cor. 14th and K Sts. (R. Single $2.50. With B. $3. Double $3.50. With B. $5. $14.00.) (See restaurants p. 8.) B.) A New Hamilton. N. E. cor. 14th and K Sts. (310 R. 310 thoroughly modern eleven-story hotel overlooking Franklin Sq., and now nearing completion. Terms on application. Portland. (Pl. II-D3) Vermont Ave., 14th and M Sts. (250 R.) Select family hotel patronized by Congressmen. (p 220.) (R. Single with B. $4. Double with B. $6. Monthly rates upon application.) (See restaurants p. 9.) Lee House. 15th and L Sts. (250 R. 250 B.) A new hotel, opened in May, 1922. (Rates from $3.50 per day up.) (See restaurants p. 9.) Everett. 1730 H St. (38 R.) (R. Single $2. Double $3 to $5.) Bancroft. (Pl. II-C3) 18th and H Sts. (60 R.) Quiet family hotel; moderate prices (R. Single, $1.50. With B., $2.50 up. R. Double, $3.50. With B., $4.50 up. American plan: $22.50 per week. With B., $25. For two persons, $40 per week, or $45 with B.) Powhatan. (Pl. II-C4) N. E. cor. 18th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. (300 R.) Large modern hotel recently enlarged. (R. Single, $3. With B., $4. R. Double, $4. With B., $5.) Richmond (Pl. II-C4), 17th and H Sts. (90 R.) Small family hotel. (R. Single, $2.50. With B., $3.50. R. Double, $4.50. With B., $5.50.) (See restaurants p. 9.) Grafton, (Pl. II-C2), Connecticut Ave. and De Sales St. American plan. Prices on application. Logan, 13th St. and Iowa Circle. (R. Single, $1.50. R. Double. with B. $3. up.) Gordon, (Pl. II-C3), 16th and I Sts. (R. Single, $3. With B., $4. Other rates on application.) Furnished rooms are advertised in the daily papers and by signs in windows. The prices vary considerably in different sections of the city, being naturally much cheaper in the older sections around Judiciary Square (p. 137), or S. of Pennsylvania Ave. beyond 17th St., than in the fashionable residential section N. of Lafayette Square, where signs are rarely displayed. Owing to the great exodus of Government employees since the close of the war, there is at present [1922] an abundance of vacant rooms, and on some of the quiet old blocks below 6th St., every third or fourth house has rooms to rent. In this neighborhood it is possible to get a large sunny room with steam heat for $6 to $8 a week. g. Suites and Furnished Apartments Visitors expecting to make a somewhat extended stay in the city may find it advantageous to take a furnished apartment. In Washington, however, apartment houses, especially of the moderate-priced sort, are not plentiful; and even in the fashionable residential section there is likely to be small range of choice, and small advantage in cost over a suite of rooms in a residential hotel. A significant evidence of the lack of available apartments or private houses at a reasonable rental is the fact that today no less than 193 members of Congress find it advantageous to live in hotels. h. Boarding Houses Good board can be obtained in Washington at a cost ranging from $12 to $20 a week. A list of boarding houses may be obtained from the Young Women's Christian Association and from the daily papers. In choosing location, the N. W. section of the city (i. e., N. of the Mall, and W. of North Capitol St.), is preferable from the standpoint of accessibility. Before engaging board a clear understanding should be reached as to what is included. Light, heat and service, and the use of the bath are usually given. III. Restaurants and Tea Rooms Apart from the big hotels, restaurant life in Washington is rather disappointing to the cosmopolitan visitor. As a social factor there seems to be no place in the Washingtonian scheme of life for the large show restaurant offering music, dancing and cabaret entertainment. The small foreign table d'hôte restaurant, French, Italian or Spanish, which in London or New York is encountered in various unexpected nooks and corners, is almost equally unknown here. The vast increase in the city's population during the temporary activities of the World War, did produce a demand for a greater number of eating houses; but these were for the most part of the dairy-kitchen and cafeteria type, clean, economical and expeditious. The only notable change wrought by war conditions is an influx of small tea rooms, neat, quiet and artistically furnished, many of which serve luncheon and dinner. Most of these, however, are in the Lafayette Square neighborhood. The sightseer, with limited time, and therefore obliged to eat in whatever section he chances to be, must often choose between a hotel and a Greek restaurant of the dairykitchen type. |