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60-639: The Dupont Circle Fountain , formally known as the Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont Memorial Fountain , is a fountain located in the center of Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. It honors Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont , a prominent American naval officer and member of the Du Pont family . The fountain replaced a statue of Du Pont that was installed in 1884. Designed by Henry Bacon and sculpted by Daniel Chester French ,

120-852: A bohemian feel and became popular among the gay and lesbian community . Along with The Castro in San Francisco, Hillcrest in San Diego , Greenwich Village in New York City, Boystown in Chicago , Oak Lawn in Dallas , Montrose in Houston , and West Hollywood in Los Angeles, Dupont Circle is considered a historic locale in the development of American gay identity. D.C.'s first gay bookstore, Lambda Rising , opened in 1974 and gained notoriety nationwide. In 1975,

180-632: A globe in her left hand and is faced downward. The Wind is a nude male figure draped with a ship sail. He is holding a conch shell with his left hand to use as a horn and is facing right. The water pours over the upper basin into a large lower basin that is approximately 1.8 feet (0.55 m) tall. The inscription on the outer rim of the lower basin states: "THIS MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN REPLACES A STATUE ERECTED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICES. SAMUEL FRANCIS DUPONT UNITED STATES NAVY 1803 – 1865." The circular concrete base features four sets of three steps that lead to

240-473: A block of Dupont Circle, but the creek has since been enclosed in a sewer line. Improvements made in the 1870s by a board of public works headed by Alexander "Boss" Shepherd transformed the area into a fashionable residential neighborhood. In 1871, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction of the traffic circle, then called Pacific Circle, as specified in L'Enfant's plan . On February 25, 1882, Congress renamed it "Dupont Circle", and authorized

300-546: A caster generated a plaster model. The model was then sent to the Piccirilli Brothers who carved it from stone, typically marble, although limestone and granite were also used. The brothers became the carvers of choice for many American sculptors of the time including Daniel Chester French and Paul Wayland Bartlett . Besides their work as carvers the Piccirilli Brothers also created architectural detailing and embellishments for many public and private buildings. One of

360-622: A concrete base and is surrounded by an open plaza. The fountain and surrounding park are owned and maintained by the National Park Service , a federal agency of the Interior Department . In 1871, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began constructing Dupont Circle , which at the time was called Pacific Circle since it was the western boundary of the city's residential areas. On February 25, 1882, Congress renamed

420-506: A fixture in Dupont Circle for over 30 years and includes over 100 rooms and 32 secret doors. Also overlooking the square is The Dupont Circle Hotel . Two disused semicircular trolley tunnels follow the outline of the circle; the one on the east is currently Dupont Underground, an art and performance space. In addition to its residential components, consisting primarily of high-priced apartments and condominiums, Dupont Circle

480-532: A gift from the Du Pont family on behalf of the government. A speech was then given by Denby who praised Du Pont's services to his country. He stated: "Du Pont's hereditary background had justified the hope so meritoriously fulfilled in that officer's career, while his service as a midshipman on the then active Constitution must have proved an inspiration for his later activities." Denby also praised Du Pont's attitude toward his fellow sailors and his willingness to put

540-626: A memorial statue of Samuel Francis Du Pont , in recognition of his service as a rear admiral during the Civil War. Unveiled on December 20, 1884, the statue was sculpted by Launt Thompson , and the circle was landscaped with exotic flowers and ornamental trees. Several prominent duPont family members deemed it too insignificant to honor their ancestor, so they secured permission to move the statue to Rockford Park in Wilmington in 1917, and commissioned Henry Bacon and Daniel Chester French to design

600-475: A replacement. The family had always disliked the statue and by 1909, the base of the statue had begun to sink and tilt, resulting in jokes being made that Du Pont and sailors were alcoholics. Senator Willard Saulsbury, Jr. 's wife, who was a niece of Du Pont, led efforts to replace the statue. The family asked that no government funds be used for the new memorial and that the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) approve

660-463: A turn-of-the-century writer who described the district as "the Striver's section, a community of Negro aristocracy". The area, which was once considered an overlap of the Dupont Circle and Shaw neighborhoods, is today a historic district. Many of its buildings are the original Edwardian -era residences, along with several apartment and condominium buildings and a few small businesses. The neighborhood

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720-446: Is centered around the traffic circle, which is divided between two counterclockwise roads. The outer road serves all the intersecting streets, while access to the inner road is limited to through traffic on Massachusetts Avenue. Connecticut Avenue passes under the circle via a tunnel; vehicles on Connecticut Avenue can access the circle via service roads that branch from Connecticut near N Street and R Street. The park within

780-732: Is home to numerous embassies , many of which are located in historic residences. The Thomas T. Gaff House serves as the Colombian ambassador's residence, and the Walsh-McLean House is home to the Indonesian embassy. Located east of Dupont Circle on Massachusetts Avenue is the Clarence Moore House , now serving as the Embassy of Uzbekistan , and the Emily J. Wilkins House , which formerly housed

840-1092: Is home to some of the nation's most prestigious think tanks and research institutions, including the American Enterprise Institute , the Brookings Institution , the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , the Institute for Policy Studies , the Aspen Institute , the German Marshall Fund , the Center for Global Development , the Stimson Center , the Eurasia Center , and the Peterson Institute . The renowned Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins

900-766: Is host to the parade, and the street festival is held in Penn Quarter. Held annually since 1986, the Dupont Circle High Heel Race takes place on the Tuesday before Halloween (October 31). The race pits dozens of drag queens against each other in a sprint down 17th Street NW between R Street and Church Street, a distance of three short blocks. The event attracts thousands of spectators and scores of participants. Piccirilli Brothers The Piccirilli Brothers were an Italian family of renowned marble carvers and sculptors who carved many of

960-408: Is located at the convergence of 19th Street, P Street , Connecticut Avenue , Massachusetts Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue NW. The double-tiered, white marble fountain rests on a concrete base. The upper basin of the fountain, which is approximately 3 feet (0.91 m) high and 11.6 feet (3.5 m) wide and weighs 15 tons, is supported by an 8-ton shaft adorned with three allegorical figures,

1020-531: Is located less than two blocks from the circle. Dupont Circle is also home to the Founding Church of Scientology museum and Scientology's National Affairs Office. The Phillips Collection , the nation's first museum of modern art, is located near the circle; its most famous and popular work on display is Renoir 's giant festive canvas Luncheon of the Boating Party . Additionally, the national headquarters of

1080-792: Is one of the few Civil War monuments that is a not an equestrian sculpture . The others are the Stephenson Grand Army of the Republic Memorial , Nuns of the Battlefield , the Peace Monument , and statues of Admiral David G. Farragut , Albert Pike and General John A. Rawlins . The fountain is designated a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District, listed on the NRHP on October 22, 1974, and

1140-621: The Washington Times-Herald (sold to The Washington Post in 1954) and declared journalistic warfare on Franklin D. Roosevelt from 15 Dupont Circle, continuing throughout World War II to push her policies, which were echoed in the New York Daily News , run by her brother Joseph Medill Patterson , and the Chicago Tribune , run by their first cousin, Colonel Robert R. McCormick . Today's Dupont Circle includes

1200-554: The AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. Capital Pride is an annual LGBT pride festival held each June in Washington. As of 2007 , the festival is the fourth-largest LGBT pride event in the United States, with over 200,000 people in attendance. The Capital Pride parade takes place annually on Saturday during the festival and travels through the streets of the neighborhood. Dupont Circle

1260-709: The Australian embassy and now is occupied by the Peruvian Chancery. Iraq operates a consular services office in the William J. Boardman House on P Street. Other landmarks, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, include the International Temple , Embassy Gulf Service Station , Christian Heurich Mansion (also known as Brewmaster's Castle), Whittemore House (headquarters to

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1320-529: The Dupont Circle Fountain in its center. The neighborhood is known for its high concentration of embassies , many located on Embassy Row , and think tanks , many located on Think Tank Row . Dupont Circle is located in the "Old City" of Washington, D.C. , the area planned by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant that remained largely undeveloped until after the American Civil War , when there

1380-624: The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America , the nation's oldest veterans organization, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History , and the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center are also located in Dupont Circle. DuPont Circle roughly coincides with the following five Census tracts, which had a total population of 15,099 in 2020. The area is roughly 70% non-Hispanic (NH) White, 10% Hispanic, 9% NH Asian, 7% NH Black and 4% NH Multiracial. Note: "Circle" refers to

1440-468: The Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque revival styles. Rarer are the palatial mansions and large freestanding houses that line the broad, tree-lined diagonal avenues that intersect the circle. Many of these larger dwellings were built in the styles popular between 1895 and 1910. One such grand residence is the marble and limestone Patterson Mansion at 15 Dupont Circle. This Italianate mansion,

1500-451: The Strivers' Section , a small residential area west of 16th Street roughly between Swann Street and Florida Avenue. The Strivers' Section was an enclave of upper-middle-class African Americans —often community leaders—in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The area includes a row of houses on 17th Street owned by Frederick Douglass and occupied by his son. It takes its name from

1560-512: The White House underwent renovation. The Coolidges welcomed Charles Lindbergh as a houseguest after his historic transatlantic flight . Lindbergh made several public appearances at the house, waving to roaring crowds from the second-story balcony, and befriended the Patterson Family, with whom he increasingly came to share isolationist and pro- German views. Cissy Patterson later acquired

1620-771: The Woman's National Democratic Club ), the Brigadier General George P. Scriven House (headquarters to the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century ), and the Phillips Collection , the country's first museum of modern art . The Richard H. Townsend House located on Massachusetts Avenue now houses the Cosmos Club . Across Massachusetts Avenue, the historic Anderson House, owned by the Society of

1680-474: The fountain that sits in Dupont Circle today. In 1920, the current double-tiered white marble fountain replaced the statue. Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, the co-creators of the Lincoln Memorial , designed the fountain, which features carvings of three classical figures symbolizing the sea, the stars and the wind on the fountain's shaft. In 1876, the second house located directly in Dupont Circle

1740-623: The Arts of Ocean Navigation. The figures, which are approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 4.5 feet (1.4 m) wide and weigh 12 tons, represent the Sea, the Stars and the Wind. The Sea is represented by a female figure with long hair holding a boat in her right hand while caressing a seagull on her shoulder with her left hand. Her left foot rests on a dolphin . The Stars is a nude female figure with long hair holding

1800-577: The Cincinnati, is open daily for tours. The Dumbarton Bridge , also known as the Buffalo Bridge, carries Q Street over Rock Creek Park and into Georgetown and was constructed in 1883. The Nuns of the Battlefield sculpture, which serves as a tribute to over 600 nuns who nursed soldiers of both armies during the Civil War, was erected in 1924. The Mansion on O Street a luxury boutique hotel, private club, events venue and museum has been

1860-518: The Dupont Circle Historic District, listed on the NRHP on July 21, 1978. In the late 1990s, the fountain was restored by sculptor Constantine Seferlis . The fountain and surrounding park are owned and maintained by the National Park Service , a federal agency of the Interior Department . The fountain sits in the center of Dupont Circle, a park, traffic circle and neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The park

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1920-584: The Dupont Circle traffic circle. Source: 2020 decennial Census Dupont Circle is served by the Dupont Circle station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro . There are two entrances: north of the circle at Q Street NW and south of the circle at 19th Street NW. The northern entrance is framed by a quote from Walt Whitman 's 1865 poem, "The Wound-Dresser", that was carved into the entrance in 2007 and echoes

1980-501: The Gem of the Ocean ." The fountain was a frequent target for vandals who would repeatedly break off fingers or hands from the sculptures. New hands were later carved and attached to the sculptures. In 1948, the fountain was temporarily removed when a streetcar underpass was built beneath Dupont Circle. When it was moved back to its original location two years later, the fountain's pumping system

2040-641: The Lincoln Memorial. The contractor was the George A. Fuller Company , whose other projects include the Flatiron Building and the Plaza Hotel in New York City. In 1920, the statue was moved to Rockford Park in Wilmington , Delaware , the hometown of the Du Pont family. Later that year, the fountain was installed using pipes that were placed in 1877 for a potential fountain that had never been built. After

2100-522: The Navy Edwin Denby . Chairs were placed along the walkways surrounding the fountain and sailors served as ushers for the event. While invited guests were being seated, the Navy Band performed music. Following the concert, members of the public were allowed to enter the area and soon filled the surrounding park. The invocation was given by Episcopal bishop Alfred Harding followed by presentation of

2160-580: The Piccirilli Brothers were known primarily as architectural modelers and the carvers of other sculptors' works, Attilio and Furio further distinguished themselves as sculptors in their own right. The family lived in a brownstone on 142nd Street in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx and set up a workshop next to their home that eventually occupied an entire city block. At that time most prominent sculptors created their original work in clay . From that clay model

2220-433: The actual White House was being repaired in 1927. In 1933, the National Park Service took over administering the circle, and added sandboxes for children, though these were removed a few years later. Connecticut Avenue was widened in the late 1920s, and increased traffic in the neighborhood caused a great deal of congestion in the circle, making it difficult for pedestrians to get around. Medians were installed in 1948, in

2280-401: The atelier of Roman sculptor Stefano Galletti, came from a long line of stone carvers, unbroken since the days of the early Renaissance. All six of Giuseppe's sons—Ferruccio (1864–1945), Attilio (1866–1945), Furio (1868–1949), Masaniello (aka Thomas) (1870–1951), Orazio (aka Horatio, Horace) (1872–1954) and Getulio (1874–1945) —were trained as marble cutters and carvers. Although

2340-635: The circle and authorized a memorial to Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803–1865) to honor his services during the Mexican–American War and Civil War . He played a large role in the modernization of the Navy , and during the Civil War he was responsible for making the Union blockade effective against the Confederacy , though his failed attempt to attack Charleston in 1863 tarnished his career record. The bronze statue

2400-419: The circle is maintained by the National Park Service . The central fountain designed by Daniel Chester French provides seating, and long, curved benches around the central area were installed in 1964. The park within the circle is a gathering place for those wishing to play chess on the permanent stone chessboards . Tom Murphy , a homeless championship chess player, was a resident. The park has also been

2460-408: The circle, to separate the through traffic on Massachusetts Avenue from the local traffic, and traffic signals were added. In 1949, traffic tunnels and an underground streetcar station were built under the circle by Capital Transit , the company produced by the consolidation of D.C.'s streetcar lines. The tunnels enabled trams and vehicles traveling along Connecticut Avenue to pass more quickly past

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2520-476: The circle. When streetcar service ended in 1962, the entrances to the underground station were closed. The space has since been transformed and reopened as the Dupont Underground art space. The neighborhood declined after World War II and particularly after the 1968 riots , but began to enjoy a resurgence in the 1970s, fueled by urban pioneers seeking an alternative lifestyle. The neighborhood took on

2580-411: The colors while the band performed " The Stars and Stripes Forever ". The cloth screens concealing the fountain were then removed by Du Pont's granddaughter, Sophie Du Pont Ford, and the band performed the national anthem and " Narcissus " by Ethelbert Nevin . The fountain was formally presented by Rear Admiral Purnell Frederick Harrington, who had served alongside Du Pont. Weeks received the fountain as

2640-451: The country's needs above his own. He concluded his speech by noting how proud the Navy was of the new memorial and expressed hopes that it would always be well maintained. Following Denby's speech, three young girls that were descendants of du Pont, Ann Andrews, Emily Du Pont and Mary Harvey, placed laurel wreaths in the fountain water. The ceremony concluded with the band performing " Columbia,

2700-514: The design. On February 26, 1917, Congress approved the replacement of the statue and insisted on construction beginning within three years. The Du Pont family chose architect Henry Bacon and sculptor Daniel Chester French to design a fountain that reflected the Beaux-Arts and neoclassical styles that were popular in the neighborhood at the time, such as the Patterson Mansion , located on

2760-445: The fountain shortly thereafter. Congress wanted recognition for its earlier attempt to honor Du Pont, so the inscription on the fountain had to include the fact that a statue erected by Congress was replaced. An early model included plans for a fountain emitting water at the top, but this wasn't incorporated into the final design. The fountain was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers , who also carved French's statue of Abraham Lincoln at

2820-408: The fountain was dedicated in 1921. Prominent guests at the dedication ceremony included First Lady Florence Harding , Secretary of War John W. Weeks and Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby . The fountain is one of eighteen Civil War monuments collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The marble fountain, which is adorned with three allegorical sculptures, rests on

2880-455: The installation, mature trees and thick vegetation were planted in the surrounding park. The fountain was formally dedicated the afternoon of May 17, 1921. The ceremony, which was supervised by Lieutenant Colonel Clarence O. Sherrill, was described as "simple, yet impressive." A temporary stand decorated with flags and shields was built for prominent guests including First Lady Florence Harding , Secretary of War John W. Weeks and Secretary of

2940-441: The location of political rallies, such as those supporting gay rights and those protesting the 2003 invasion of Iraq , the World Bank , and the International Monetary Fund . In 1999, Thelma Billy was arrested handing out Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless. In 2009, a tug of war was sponsored by the Washington Project for the Arts . In 2014, the city proposed to turn an 850-square-foot (79 m ) concrete sidewalk on

3000-420: The most significant marble sculptures in the United States , including Daniel Chester French ’s colossal Abraham Lincoln (1920) in the Lincoln Memorial , Washington, D.C. In 1888, Giuseppe Piccirilli (1844–1910), a well-known stone carver in Massa and a veteran of Garibaldi's Unification war , brought his family to New York City . Giuseppe, who was born in Rome and received his early training in

3060-435: The northeast edge of the circle. Bacon is best known for designing the Lincoln Memorial while French's best known work is the statue of Abraham Lincoln inside the memorial. French's other works in Washington, D.C., include the Butt-Millet Memorial Fountain , the First Division Monument and the Thomas Gallaudet Memorial . The total cost of the commission was $ 77,521. The CFA approved the design in 1917 and work began on

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3120-526: The only survivor of the many mansions that once ringed the circle, was built in 1901 by New York architect Stanford White for Robert Patterson , editor of the Chicago Tribune , and his wife Nellie, heiress to the Chicago Tribune fortune. Upon Mrs. Patterson's incapacitation in the early 1920s, the house passed into the hands of her daughter, Cissy Patterson , who made it a hub of Washington social life. The house served as temporary quarters for President and Mrs.  Calvin Coolidge in 1927 while

3180-620: The south side of the traffic circle into a "kinetic park". Previously occupied by bike lockers, the parklet was repaved with 100 PaveGen pavers, which generate electricity when people walk on them. Designers ZGF Architects said the project would rebuild the sidewalk and curbs and add seven granite benches, six bollard bicycle racks, and two flower beds. The pavers were expected to "generate 456.25 kilowatts of energy [ sic ] annually", according to Washington Business Journal , and power lights under each bench. The $ 300,000 project opened in November 2016. The Dupont Circle neighborhood

3240-412: The store ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial. Gentrification accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, and the area is now a more mainstream and trendy location with coffeehouses , restaurants, bars, fast casual food, and upscale retail stores. Since 1997, a weekly farmers market has operated on 20th Street NW. The area's rowhouses , primarily built before 1900, feature variations on

3300-425: The surrounding plaza. Six radial paths corresponding to the surrounding streets lead from the plaza to the edges of the park. Dupont Circle The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue  NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW. The circle is named for Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont . The traffic circle contains

3360-408: Was a large influx of new residents. Based on the original L'Enfant plan , the area occupied by the circle was intended to be rectangular in shape, similar to Farragut Square . Dupont Circle was once home to a brickyard and slaughterhouse. There also was a creek, Slash Run, that began near 15th Street NW and Columbia Road NW, ran from 16th Street near Adams Morgan , through Kalorama and within

3420-412: Was built by a wealthy merchant by the name of William M. Galt. During the 1870s and 1880s, mansions were built along Massachusetts Avenue, one of Washington's grand avenues, and townhouses were built throughout the neighborhood. In 1872, the British built a new embassy on Connecticut Avenue, at N Street NW. Stewart's Castle was built in 1873 on the north side of the circle, the James G. Blaine Mansion

3480-450: Was built on the west side in 1882, and the Leiter House was built on the north side in 1893. By the 1920s, Connecticut Avenue was more commercial in character, with numerous shops. Some residences, including Senator Philetus Sawyer 's mansion at Connecticut and R Street, were demolished to make way for office buildings and shops. The Patterson House, at 15 Dupont Circle, served as a temporary residence for President Calvin Coolidge while

3540-446: Was replaced. When the new system was installed, workers forgot to connect the pipes to the fountain. The issue was corrected the following year and the fountain became operational. The fountain is one of eighteen Civil War monuments in Washington, D.C. that were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on September 20, 1978, and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites on March 3, 1979. It

3600-445: Was sculpted by Launt Thompson and dedicated on December 20, 1884, at a cost of $ 20,500. Attendees at the ceremony included President Chester A. Arthur , Senator Thomas F. Bayard , Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Philip Sheridan . The circle was landscaped with exotic plants and hundreds of trees. In the early 20th century, members of the prominent Du Pont family wanted a memorial of greater artistic value and lobbied for

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