Penn Quarter Neighborhood

Chinatown 華府華埠 was once home to many Chinese immigrants who moved into the area in the 1930s, having been displaced from Washington’s original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue by the development of the Federal Triangle government office complex. The newcomers marked it with decorative metal latticework and railings as well as Chinese signage. At its peak, Chinatown extended from G Street north to Massachusetts Avenue, and from 9th Street east to 5th Street. In 1986, the District dedicated the “Friendship Archway,” a traditional Chinese gate designed by Alfred H. Liu, a local architect and chairman of the Chinatown Development Corporation. The colorful, $1M work of art includes seven roofs up to 60 feet in height, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Erected to celebrate friendship with Washington’s sister city of Beijing, it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood’s Chinese character. According to the plaque next to the arch, it is the largest such single-span archway in the world. In 1993, the Friendship Archway underwent a major renovation funded by DC and Chinese governments. Artisans from China performed extensive repairs on the archway and repainted details. In 1986, the Metro station was given its present name: Gallery Place-Chinatown. Many residents were displaced during this time, and in 1982, the city built the Wah Luck House apartment house at 6th and H Streets to accommodate some. Designed by architect Alfred Liu, the apartment building introduced modern Chinese design motifs due to the red-paneled balconies. Sadly, with completion of the MCI Center in 1997 (renamed Verizon Center in 2006 and Capital One Arena in 2017), little of the Chinatown neighborhood remained.