Description:

Embassy Row extends from the west side of DuPont Circle on Massachussets, past Sheridan circle into north Georgetown. It’s called embassy row because a number of foreign consulates line the road, forming the main strip on which foreign dignitaries conduct their business. Harking back to the guilded age, when politicians and political elites were also members of an extremely wealthy class, the mansions along embassy row are no longer occupied by private residents. Most of them have been converted into embassies and foreign delegations.

Starting at DuPont circle and walking west, you will pass the embassies of Purtugal and Indonesia to the south and the embassy of India to the north. The embassy of Indonesia is especially stunning, built in 1903 and occupied by the multi-millionaire Walsh family. From the embassy, continuing west across 22^nd street, you will pass the embassies of Estonia, Luxembourg, the Bahamas, Sudan, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, South Korea, and Latvia. There are also numerous embassies on R street, just north of Sheridan circle. Highlights along Massachussets Heights (the area north of Rock Creek) include a statue of Mohandas K. Gandhi just east of Sheridan circle, the Islamic Center, and the beautiful, stately embassies of Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, and Italy.

If you want a quick way of getting to Georgetown, take the Dumbarton oaks trail, a little foresty oasis in the middle of the city. The easiest way to dip onto the trail from Massachusetts is to turn left from Mass (travelling west) onto the trail just opposite Rock Creek Dr NW. The entrance is shortly after the bridge that crosses Rock Creek.  The trail runs across a small feeder creek from Rock Creek, winds its way through a bit of forest, and exits on the southwest side of the naval observatory, right by a satellite campus of Georgetown. There you can enjoy a wide variety of restaurants and shops. Just make your way south on Wisconsin to M street. There are beautiful boutiques, delis, and pastry shops along the way.

Embassy Row remains one of the relics of Washington D.C.’s past, when America’s capital was the playground for the super elite. We have them to thank for the numerous buildings that remain today and house foreign dignitaries from all across the world.