Woodley Park in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Long and Winding Road
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 7, 2018
The first map of Woodley Park, called Kervand's Woodley and dated 1875, shows Woodley Lane (now called Woodley Road) as the only road through the area and the heart of the new subdivision. As recently as 1887, Woodley Lane was described as "a country road winding its way down the hillside, crossing the creek on wooden bridges a few feet above the level of the stream, and thus making the difficult and circuitous ascent to greater elevation of the Tennallytown Pike" (now called Wisconsin Avenue). An iron truss bridge was built over Rock Creek at Woodley Lane in 1888-1889.
You can still trace the path of old Woodley Lane. From Rock Creek walk up the hill on what is now Shoreham Lane, up 24th Street to Connecticut Avenue, go north for half a block on Connecticut to Woodley Road, left on Woodley Road to 29th Street, then right on 29th Street to Cathedral Avenue. The old Woodley Lane continued up what is now Cathedral Avenue and turned left to go in front of "Woodley" (now Maret School). Today, Cathedral Avenue curves again to the right past the current west gate of Maret, and continues on what is still called Woodley Road, before making the ascent to Wisconsin Avenue.
The small triangle of land at the corner of Woodley Road and 29th Street was formed when the rectangular street system was imposed over a bend in the original Woodley Lane.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the DC, Art on Call series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 38° 55.567′ N, 77° 3.391′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Woodley Park. Marker is at the intersection of 28th Street Northwest and Woodley Road Northwest, on the left when traveling east on 28th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 28th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20008, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Harry Wardman (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Woodley Road Neighbors (about 400 feet away); Walsh Memorial (about 500 feet away); Long & Winding Woodley Road (approx. 0.2 miles away); Redwood (approx. ¼ mile away); Mihran Mesrobian (approx. ¼ mile away); Million Dollar Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Woodley Estate (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Also see . . . Woodley Park Community Association. (Submitted on January 7, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 7, 2018
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 7, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.