On the historical side , it would be nigh on impossible to explore Capitol Hill without first highlighting the neighborhood ’ s hallmark institutions , of which there are many . While the magisterial Supreme Court Building , with its magnificent Corinthian columns and neoclassical design , occupies pride of place in this historic neighborhood , just across the street sits the equally impressive Library of Congress , which is comprised of three buildings , including the Thomas Jefferson Building , a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture renowned for its stunning and grandiose Great Hall . The nation ’ s oldest federal cultural institution , the Library of Congress is as notable for its impressive reading rooms as it is for its status as the world ’ s largest library complete with an unparalleled collection of books , manuscripts , and historical artifacts .
For literary buffs , the Folger Shakespeare Library is yet another hidden gem tucked away in historic Capitol Hill . Dedicated to studying and appreciating William Shakespeare and his works , the library houses the world ’ s most extensive collection of Shakespearean materials , including rare books and manuscripts . Meanwhile , the Capitol Hill Baptist Church , with its historic red-brick facade and towering steeple , has been a spiritual cornerstone of the neighborhood since its founding in 1878 .
Beyond the acres of marble and granite monuments that dominate Capitol Hill , there is another side to this renowned corner of America ’ s capital city . While legendary institutions like the venerable Old Ebbitt Grill , Washington ’ s oldest saloon , which first opened its doors in 1856 , The Monocle , a go-to lunch or dinner spot for local politicians and lobbyists alike since the 1960s , and Martin ’ s Tavern , where John F . Kennedy purportedly proposed to the future Jacqueline Onassis , continue to thrive , a new wave of hotspots are becoming local institutions in their own right after having staked their claim in Capitol Hill .
As minimalist , independent coffeehouses like Compass Coffee ( coming soon to Reagan ) and Peregrine Espresso regularly pack in an overflowing crowd of caffeine-addicted fans with artisanal brews , vintage stores like Clothes Encounters and the quirky D . C . -based brand Relume draw an eclectic swarm of shopaholics in search of singular , rare , and fabulous items not to be found elsewhere in the city . Similarly , the esteemed Capitol Hill Books , with its three floors chock full of used and rare books and first editions , attracts a literate following that includes everyone from scholars and collectors to casual bookworms who still have a fondness for print in an increasingly digital world . The aforementioned , taken as a whole , are emblematic of the scene that lends a hipster ethos to this stalwart community .
United States Capitol Rotunda
Credit : dkfielding
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 46 SPRING 2024