Fort Dupont - Washington, DC Area Guide

The neighborhood and its adjacent park took their names from a Civil War-era fort located on the park grounds. The mission of Fort Dupont was to protect the nation’s capital from Confederate sympathizers, and runaway slaves often took sanctuary at the Fort on their way north. The National Capital Planning Commission purchased what remained of Fort Dupont in the 1930s and converted the land into recreational space for city residents.

The neighborhood of Fort Dupont does not have any museums, but the Smithsonian Institution sits just 5 miles away. One of the Smithsonian’s museums, the Anacostia Community Museum, welcomes visitors even closer to Fort Dupont in the Fort Stanton area. Both the Anacostia Arts Center and Capital Hill’s Eastern Market host art exhibits and neighborhood events convenient to Fort Dupont.

As a largely residential neighborhood, the restaurant and nightlife options in Fort Dupont remain limited. The Caribbean-influenced Pimento Grill stands apart, however. Its perfectly-seasoned selections sing with authentic Jamaican flavors and provide healthy alternatives to fast food. Locals swear by the basic jerk chicken platter with rice and recommend washing it down with one of the grill's unique homemade juices such as cucumber ginger.

A small Thai carry-out located just outside Fort Dupont called Thai Orchid's Kitchen maintains enormous popularity among residents who crave spicy pad thai and drunken noodles. Regulars recommend the lemongrass soup with seafood, the panang curry and spicy papaya salad. If in a rush or you don't want to leave the house, then don't fear — this local favorite does both carry-out and delivery.

Another local restaurant called Johnny Boy Carryout packs a big punch into a small space. Johnny Boy's legendary slow-grilled ribs come by the slab or the pound with either traditional hot sauce or a milder alternative. Enjoy watching the ribs being prepared before your eyes as you stop in to collect your order from this carry-out and cash-only establishment.

For bars, clubs or live music, residents of Fort Dupont travel into other area's of the city such as Trusty's in Capital Hill East where bartenders serve beer out of mason jars. Visit Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar on H Street, NE to try the signature cocktail called The Awesomeness followed by Kostume Karaoke. To see local bands in an intimate and funky setting, go to the Rock & Roll Hotel also on H Street, NE.

Fort Dupont does not have a Metro stop in the neighborhood. The two closest stations, Minnesota Avenue on the Orange Line and Benning Road on the Blue and Silver Lines, require a walk of approximately 1 mile or a short bus ride. The Minnesota Avenue stop does have parking for a cost of $3.60 daily, but the Benning Road station does not have any parking available.

Buses provide the most efficient mode of transportation for residents of Fort Dupont. You can walk throughout the neighborhood itself, but, for those travelling farther, MetroBus provides extensive coverage throughout the city and into both Maryland and Virginia.

For drivers, you can easily access the Anacostia Freeway from the Fort Dupont neighborhood. The Freeway leads north to Baltimore and connects with the Capitol beltway and Interstate 95 to the south. Running along the north end of Fort Dupont, East Capitol Street leads directly to the U.S. Capitol. You can easily park on the street in Fort Dupont. Some parking requires payment, but visitors can sometimes find free parking.

Cabs tend to be difficult to find in Fort Dupont. Similarly, you may have trouble getting car services from Uber in this part of the city.

The streets of Fort Dupont do not have dedicated bike lanes or shared-use lanes. The parks within the neighborhood, however, provide recreational biking paths.

Fort Dupont Park has over 400 acres of forestland, 10 miles of trails, an activity center and a concert stage. On the other edge of the neighborhood, the smaller Fort Chaplin Park also provides lush green space within the urban landscape. Locals can rent community garden plots in both parks. These free-admission parks welcome children and leashed pets.

One of the neighborhood biggest claims to local fame remains the Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Run by a non-profit group, the arena hosts public skating sessions, ice skating lessons and hockey. Named a “Safe Place” for young people by America’s Promise, the Fort Dupont Ice Arena hosts a variety of community programs, including "Kids On Ice," a program in which children can learn to ice skate for free with all equipment provided.

Residents enjoy access to a full sports complex that runs along Ely Place on the north end of Fort Dupont Park. In addition to the Ice Arena, the area has an open-use softball field, and tennis and basketball courts.

For over 30 years, the National Park Service has sponsored the Fort Dupont Summer Concert series. The free concerts feature local and nationally known performers. The program occasionally shows movies as well.

Living in Fort Dupont costs considerably less than it does elsewhere in Washington, D.C., but still more than the national average. Gas prices equal the average prices found in D.C.

Traveling to the center of the nation’s capital from Fort Dupont costs about $3. Because the neighborhood lacks a Metro station, the trip requires either a bus trip or considerable walking to reach one of the nearby Metros that can take you to the city center.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Fort Dupont sits at about $851 a month. Grab a beer at nearby Uniontown Bar and Grill for $2.50 during happy hour or $4 at Avery’s Bar & Lounge.

Iverson Mall provides the best shopping options in the Fort Dupont area. The Mall houses a variety of discount stores, such as Payless Shoe Source and the Dollar Store. For boutiques and specialty stores, head out of the vicinity of Fort Dupont and into more commercial districts such as Anacostia and the H Street Corridor.

The C.A.T.Walk Boutique on H Street NE carries unique women's fashion from around the world. The hand-selected inventory includes sections for plus sizes and local designers. The boutique at the Anacostia Art Gallery sells an exceptional selection of gifts, from East African jewelry to home accents made in Kenya.

Also in Anacostia's Historic District, Martha's Outfitters provides a community thrift shop that sells chic and sophisticated clothing, and home goods. Proceeds from Martha's Outfitters support a program at the shop's sister charity, Martha's Table, which gives free clothing and housewares to families in need.

The Fort Dupont neighborhood has many small markets as well as several larger grocery stores nearby, including Safeway and Giant Food. Nearby. D.C. residents agree, however, that the best grocery store in the vicinity remains the Harris Teeter across the Anacostia River in Capital Hill.

Fort Dupont does not have its own farmers market, and residents must travel a few miles from home to reach one. The Ward 8 Farmers Market sells fresh, local produce on Saturdays in season. Fort Dupont residents can also easily travel to Capitol Hill's Historic Eastern Market. Heralding itself as not just a market, but a cultural destination, Eastern Market provides year-round indoor and outdoor market spaces, as well as a section devoted to arts and community events, such as meetings, weddings and dance classes.