Historic Village | Funktown

One of the District of Columbia’s very first neighborhoods, Foggy Bottom has seen a lot of change and changed a lot with it. Originally part of “Hamburgh”, the neighborhood became known as “Funktown” for its German developer Jacob Funk. Later, the village was nicknamed “Foggy Bottom” for its location on low elevation, swampy land near the Potomac river that generated fog, and industrial pollution.

GWU moved to Foggy Bottom in 1912, but it didn’t give the little neighborhood much of a boost. In fact, it had to close for over a month in 1918 during the Spanish Flu epidemic. But from 1950 when The Watergate delivered, to 1970, Foggy Bottom got a major makeover. More luxury co-ops and apartments were built, and the neighborhood’s population became more affluent. Foggy Bottom–GWU Kennedy Center opened on July 1, 1977.

Happily, Foggy Bottom survived its mid-1800s identity as an industrial and brewery village to become a vibrant, charming university neighborhood.

Key Details

• Neighborhood Activity

  Students, long-time historic district residents, Whole Foods shoppers, and those taking in the shows and activities at The Kennedy Center, plus a lot of GW Hospital activity. Never boring.

• Lifestyle

  Only 3 acres in size, mostly walkable, Foggy Bottom is primarily occupied by GW. There’s a small retail district, Metro station, The John F Kennedy Center, infamous Watergate complex, Renwick Gallery, Einstein Memorial, the Potomac riverfront trail of Rock Creek Park, the Stqte Department, IMF and World Bank, along with the Embassies of Brazil, Argentine, Bahamas, and the House of Sweden. A lot of variety packed into a small neighborhood, plus it shares borders with West End, Georgetown and Capitol Hill, so….