Kalorama Triangle in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
"Best Addresses"
Roads to Diversity
— Adams Morgan Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 13, 2018
dubbed "best addresses" by historian James Goode, the grand apartments of the Kalorama Triangle are among the city's earliest. The Mendota (1901) located at 2220 20th, is the city's oldest intact luxury apartment house. The Wyoming (1905_1911), ahead of you on Columbia road, and the Altamont (1915) over your right shoulder, offered elaborate façades, elegant lobbies, and spacious units of more than 2,000 square feet. Many buildings boasted swimming pools, beauty parlors, servants' quarters, sleeping porches, and rare early elevators, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and air conditioners.
These elaborate buildings filled quickly. Thirty Mendota residents appeared in the 1910 Elite List, Washington's social register. By 1918, there were 48. Not all who lived here were wealthy, of course, but many were notable. A man who would be president, Dwight Eisenhower, once lived at the Wyoming, a former president, William Howard Taft, as well as General John J. Pershing and entertainer Lena Horne, resided at 2029 Connecticut Avenue.
Shortly after these buildings opened, some tenants became concerned about rising rents and the question of who would live next door. So they established co-operative ownership. In Adams Morgan, the Netherlands at 1860 Columbia Road was the first to convert in 1920. During World War II, DC rents topped those in all other American cities, leading to more conversions. The Altamont went co-op in 1949, followed by the Mendota in 1952, and 2029 Connecticut Avenue in 1977. The Wyoming converted in 1982, was designated a historic landmark after community groups prevented its demolition for a proposed expansion of the Washington Hilton.
Erected 2005 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Adams Morgan Heritage Trail, the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 38° 55.082′ N, 77° 2.732′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Kalorama Triangle. Marker is at the intersection of 20th Street Northwest and Columbia Road Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 20th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wyoming Apartments (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Embassy of the Republic of Malta (about 400 feet away); Architects and Architecture
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 13, 2018
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 13, 2018
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 13, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.