Old Takoma Historic District

Old Takoma Historic District is a late-19th‑ and early-20th‑century residential and commercial neighborhood straddling the border of Washington, D.C. and Takoma Park, Maryland. Developed as a streetcar suburb tied to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the expansion of Washington metropolitan area transit, the district retains a concentration of Queen Anne architecture, Colonial Revival architecture, and early Craftsman architecture that reflect national trends in urban planning and suburbanization. Its designation as a historic district recognizes associations with key figures and institutions involved in regional transportation, municipal development, and community activism.

History

The neighborhood originated after the 1883 establishment of the Takoma Park Land Company by Benjamin F. Gilbert, which followed the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passenger station that linked to Washington Union Station and the wider Chesapeake Bay corridor. Early growth coincided with the expansion of the Washington City and Suburban Railway and the rise of electric streetcars by companies like the Capital Traction Company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company, catalyzing patterns seen in contemporaneous suburbs such as Alexandria, Virginia, Glen Echo, Maryland, and Hyattsville, Maryland. Prominent residents and builders included developers influenced by architects who trained under practitioners associated with Adolf Cluss and movements represented at the Columbian Exposition (1893). Throughout the early 20th century the area weathered shifts from railroad-centric commuting to automobile-oriented infrastructure seen across the United States Interstate System era, while maintaining a civic identity linked to local institutions like the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church and the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department.

Geography and Boundaries

The district occupies a corridor along what is now Carroll Street (Takoma Park), Maple Avenue, University Boulevard (Maryland Route 193), and sections of Ethan Allen Avenue near the historic Takoma Junction and original Takoma station (B&O Railroad). It straddles the Maryland–District of Columbia border adjacent to neighborhoods such as Brookland, Washington, D.C., Takoma (Washington, D.C.), and Silver Spring, Maryland. Topographically the area lies on the western slope of Sligo Creek watershed, near green spaces connected to the Anacostia Tributary Trail System and within commuting distance of landmarks like American University and United States National Arboretum. Municipal boundaries and planning overlays from Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office define the legal boundaries that inform zoning, tax assessment, and preservation incentives.

Architecture and Notable Structures

Residential stock features a high concentration of Queen Anne architecture cottages with asymmetrical façades, wraparound porches, and patterned shingles, alongside Colonial Revival architecture homes with classical porticos and Georgian Revival details. Craftsman bungalows reflect influences associated with designers responding to publications like The Craftsman (magazine) and the work of figures connected to the American Arts and Crafts movement. Notable structures include the historic Takoma Park Railroad Station (B&O) depot, commercial buildings at Takoma Junction, and religious architecture exemplified by the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church and the St. Anthony Catholic Church (Takoma Park). Residential architects and builders tied to the district also worked in contemporaneous commissions for institutions such as Gallaudet University and municipal projects influenced by the McMillan Plan and the City Beautiful movement.

Preservation and Historic Designation

Local preservation efforts grew in parallel with national movements like the establishment of the National Register of Historic Places and the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Community organizations such as the Takoma Park Historic District Commission and neighborhood associations collaborated with the Maryland Historical Trust and the D.C. Historic Preservation Office to document architectural inventories and secure protection measures. The district's listing recognized both architectural integrity and associations with transportation history linked to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the streetcar era championed by companies like Capital Transit Company. Preservation strategies have balanced state and municipal tax credits, easements overseen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and local design review standards influenced by precedents set in districts such as Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) and Old Town Alexandria.

Cultural and Community Significance

As a longstanding residential enclave, the district has been a focal point for civic activism, arts scenes, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration involving institutions such as the Takoma Park Silver Spring Food Co-op, Takoma Park Folk Festival, and local chapters of the American Legion and Rotary International. The area has hosted cultural programming tied to regional organizations including the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and community arts centers that reflect the neighborhood’s proximity to Washington, D.C. cultural corridors. Social history in the district intersects with broader movements such as urban renewal debates of the mid‑20th century, civil rights organizing connected with regional networks including the NAACP, and grassroots land-use advocacy that informed later policies at the Montgomery County Council and the District of Columbia Council.

Category:Historic districts in Maryland Category:Historic districts in Washington, D.C.