Georgetown University Car Barn: A Historical Landmark
The Georgetown Car Barn, historically known as the Capital Traction Company Union Station, stands as a testament to Washington, D.C.'s vibrant past and its evolution in transportation and urban development. Designed by architect Waddy Butler Wood, this Romanesque Revival building was constructed between 1895 and 1897 as a union terminal for various streetcar lines serving Washington and Virginia. Today, owned by Georgetown University, the Car Barn serves as an academic building, blending its rich history with modern educational purposes.
Early History and Construction
The Car Barn's story begins long before its construction in the late 19th century. In 1761, a tobacco warehouse occupied the site, strategically located near the Key Bridge to receive shipments arriving by sea. During the Civil War, the site transitioned to housing some of the city's horse-drawn streetcars, marking an early connection to transportation.
In 1894, Congress authorized an extension of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad to the intersection of 36th and M Streets, near the Aqueduct Bridge. This legislation mandated the construction of a union passenger station to accommodate the anticipated street railway traffic converging at the bridge. Construction commenced in early 1895, under the architectural direction of Waddy Butler Wood and the engineering supervision of D.S. Carll, superintendent and chief engineer of the Capital Traction Company.
The construction process involved significant excavation to level the steep hillside between M and Prospect Streets. Approximately 80,000 cubic yards (61,000 m3) of earth were removed, resulting in the sharp cliff that exists today. The blasting operations faced opposition from nearby residents, leading to court-ordered supervision to mitigate damage to neighboring properties, such as the Prospect House.
Upon completion, the Car Barn's imposing structure obstructed the view of the Potomac River and Virginia from homes on Prospect Street, impacting the scenic vistas enjoyed by residents.
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Architectural Features and Initial Operations
The Georgetown Car Barn is a three-story building, spanning 180 by 242 feet (55 by 74 meters), and it officially opened on May 27, 1897. Its interior featured offices for the tenant trolley companies and waiting rooms adorned with red oak wainscot paneling, ornate iron stair railings, and stuccoed ceilings. The exterior showcased the Romanesque Revival style, characterized by robust, symmetrical forms and arched windows.
The building's tower, reaching a height of 140 feet (43 m), housed an elevator that transported passengers between the terminals. The pediment facing M Street and other decorative elements reflected the building's original function as a transportation hub.
The first floor facing M Street served the Washington and Georgetown Railroad, with expectations that trolleys would cross the Potomac River from Rosslyn via the Aqueduct Bridge. These trolleys were envisioned to connect downtown Washington with Arlington County (then named Alexandria County), Falls Church, and the City of Alexandria. Additionally, the station anticipated accommodating trolleys traveling along the projected route of the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad.
Transition to Electric Streetcars and Subsequent Modifications
The Georgetown Car Barn's tenure as Washington's only cable car trolley terminal was short-lived, lasting less than a year. Almost immediately after its opening, the Capital Traction Company converted the facility to accommodate the new electric streetcars. However, the Virginia lines never utilized the terminal as initially planned.
Despite its initial acclaim, the Car Barn entered a period of deterioration and neglect that spanned approximately 50 years. The first phase of transformation from a trolley station to an office building occurred between 1906 and 1908, with portions of the second floor converted into office space.
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The electrification of streetcars necessitated a large-scale redesign of the Car Barn, commencing in 1910. To accommodate the larger electric cars, the building's entrances were widened, and a new elevator was installed to lift streetcars to the roof. This extensive remodeling involved replacing steel supports, altering the front facade, extending the building towards M Street, and increasing its height to create additional office space.
Further conversions of track space to office space took place between 1921 and 1922. In 1933, the Car Barn was designated as the headquarters of the newly formed Capital Transit Company, resulting from the merger of the Capital Traction Company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company. This consolidation brought more office workers to the building.
During these modifications, the roof in the middle of the building was removed, altering its original design.
Decline of Streetcar Operations and Adaptive Reuse
The last streetcar operations at the Car Barn ceased on April 30, 1949, with the closure of the Rosslyn-Benning Line. The building continued to store streetcars until May 1950.
In 1956, ownership of the Car Barn transferred to the DC Transit System. By this time, the building had fallen into disrepair, prompting discussions about potential demolition. However, the decision was made to preserve the historic structure and undertake renovations.
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Between 1957 and 1960, the interior underwent significant renovations to transform it into a fully functional office building. This included lowering the ceilings, which had been exceptionally high to accommodate the streetcars.
From 1963, the Car Barn became home to the International Police Academy, an institution that trained police forces from various countries.
International Police Academy
From late 1963 through 1975, the Car Barn was home to the International Police Academy, which trained thousands of police from around the world. Under the auspices of the Agency for International Development, the IPA offered training in topics from riot control to traffic management, personnel management to forensics. The Academy touted its results: many of its graduates went on to high-ranking positions in governments of their home countries. But there was a dark side to this success. Accusations surfaced in these countries and among activists in the US that the training participants learned methods of surveillance, torture, and even bomb-making. Graduates were linked to death squads in El Salvador, genocide in Guatemala, and the brutal Idi Amin regime.
The IPA was part of the Office of Public Safety (OPS), which was a government agency founded by President John F. Kennedy in late 1963 to train the local police forces of American allies around the globe. The Car Barn’s owner, O. However, controversy surrounded the IPA, and there were reports that it was instructing police officers on the use of torture. Then, when these police officers were sent back, the riot control and torture methods they learned at the IPA were being used to suppress freedom in their countries, often in the name of defeating communism.
Later Renovations and Georgetown University's Acquisition
In 1986, the building underwent further renovations, overseen by Arthur Cotton Moore/Associates.
In 1992, the building's owner faced financial difficulties, leading to a change in ownership to the Lutheran Brotherhood.
In 1997, Douglas Development Corporation acquired the Car Barn and initiated another renovation the following year.
Georgetown University began leasing space in the Car Barn in the 1950s. After two years of renovations by the university, completed in 2017, the first-floor garage was transformed into space for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Georgetown University Press.
Modern Use and Recognition
Today, the Georgetown Car Barn encompasses four floors and spans approximately 81,765 square feet (7,596 square meters). It serves as a vibrant academic hub for Georgetown University, featuring classrooms, offices for graduate programs, and student lounges. Amenities include a ground-floor cafe and a rooftop terrace offering views of the Potomac River.
The Car Barn was recognized as a historic site in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2019, solidifying its place in the city's rich history.
The Georgetown Car Barn’s historic value was initially recognized through its inclusion in the Georgetown Historic District, which was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites on November 8, 1964. This designation encompassed the broader neighborhood's architectural and cultural significance, protecting the Car Barn as a contributing property within the district boundaries.
Preservation efforts intensified in the lead-up to the 2019 designations, driven by organizations such as the D.C. Preservation League. A key adaptive reuse project, completed in 2017, renovated approximately 22,000 square feet on the first floor to create modern educational spaces while respecting the structure's historic features.
Designed by Clark Nexsen, the work reopened original large arched doorways-once used for streetcars-infilling them with a glass curtainwall system to form a transparent lobby and student lounge, and installed new wood windows matching the historic originals to enhance natural light. The project addressed challenges in integrating contemporary requirements with preservation mandates, such as incorporating advanced technology, higher air quality standards, and an elevator for accessibility, all while maintaining the building's Romanesque Revival elements approved by the Old Georgetown Board.
Today, the Car Barn functions as a vibrant academic hub for Georgetown University, featuring classrooms like Car Barn 315 equipped for hybrid learning, offices for graduate programs, and dedicated student lounges such as Room 220. Amenities include a ground-floor cafe for quick meals and a rooftop terrace offering views of the Potomac River, fostering study and interaction among students. An ever-growing institution, Georgetown University saw an opportunity to repurpose an 1800s mechanical car building by transforming the first floor spaces to house the University Press and Master of Arts in Government program. Care was taken to maintain the historic integrity of the building’s character by re-opening the large arched doorways, previously used for the streetcars, and infilling them with a glass-fin curtainwall system to promote transparency and create a dramatic lobby and student lounge area. New wood windows, matching the originals, were incorporated into the facade, bringing natural light into the space and offering views to the famous “Exorcist Steps,” which were preserved along the building’s exterior. The faculty and graduate student offices were created with supporting conference rooms for group interaction, and these spaces are shared with the University Press, maximizing their utilization.
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