Georgia Avenue is one of DC's great north to south roads. It runs past Howard University and up through Petworth and Brightwood toward Maryland. If you grew up along it, you have stories about it.
A Road With a Few Names
The road we call Georgia Avenue today was once known as 7th Street Extended and Brightwood Avenue. The name Georgia Avenue originally belonged to a different street in Southeast and Southwest. In 1908 Congress swapped the names, and Brightwood Avenue became Georgia Avenue.
Then
Near where Georgia meets 7th Street and Florida Avenue, the neighborhood was known for its big bakeries, including the old Wonder Bread plant. The blocks by Howard were full of carryouts, barber shops, record stores and go-go spilling out of corner stores. That same intersection is where Chuck Brown Way begins today.
Now
Walk it now and you will see new grocery stores, glass apartment buildings and scooters on the sidewalk. Some of the old spots are still holding it down. A lot of them are gone. Our Then and Now series puts both side by side so the old corners are not forgotten.
Wear the Story
The Georgia Ave Then and Now Tee is the first design in the series. More corners are coming.
Sources: Wikipedia, DC Preservation League
