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Brookland |
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| Photo: William Geiger |
Savor the solemn beauty of the Franciscan Monastery and the grandeur of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as you explore this neighborhood nicknamed "Little Rome," home of Catholic University and more than 60 Catholic institutions.
Brookland is also home to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, which offers exhibits, special programs and more. And within a short drive of the neighborhood center, you can visit the city's oldest cemetery and the magnificent gardens of the U.S. National Arboretum.
History
The area called Brookland evolved in the early 1870s, when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad opened its western branch line in this area. The rail line was situated alongside the fine 1840 Greek Revival farmhouse, Brooks Mansion, home of Colonel Jehiel Brooks.
By the late 1880s, Catholic University established its location just north of Brooks farm. Developers quickly responded to these expansions, creating a new Washington neighborhood beyond the central city and taking its name from Col. Brooks.
In the early days, Brookland, a community of wooden houses – from Victorian Queen Anne to Craftsman-style bungalows – attracted government workers, a few Smithsonian Institution scientists, and people of many ethnic backgrounds who shared the Catholic faith.
Some examples of Brookland Residential Architecture, for the most part, middle-class residential housing, include: a Queen Anne style at 3425 14th Street, NE, The Rodessa, a 1920s Sears and Roebuck catalogue house at 1518 Hamlin Street, NE, and a Victorian cottage at 1351 Otis Street, NE.
African American Presence
A rich African American Heritage resulted from an expanded African American presence in the 1930s, adding to the diversity of Brookland. Of particular note are 13 International-style houses designed by Hilyard Robinson and Howard H. Mackey, two of Washington's most prominent African American architects in the 1930s. One of their designs is the Ralph Bunche house, built for the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Many other notable black Washingtonians made their home here, including the entertainer Pearl Bailey, the poet Sterling Brown, HUD Secretary Robert Weaver, Senator Edward Brooke, and Rayford Logan.
Still a racially mixed neighborhood today, the Brookland community enjoys an interesting history of civic activism. Most recently it rescued Colonel Brooks mansion, which still stands near the Brookland Metro station, a symbol of this community and its heritage.
Little Rome
The area's numerous Catholic institutions offer interesting architectural models and religious sculpture. They also provide a significant resource for Catholic studies. Libraries and collections such as the Dominican House of Studies, the Marist College Library, Oblate College and Theology Library, and Trinity College make their resources available to serious researchers.
For More Information
Check out our Calendar of Events for up-to-date information on Brookland happenings.
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