The Anacostia Heritage Trail is Here!

Did you notice something different on Good Hope Rd. and MLK Ave? Next time you are driving or walking down the street look a little closer and you will notice the Anacostia Heritage Trail signs have been installed! 

Yup, it took us nearly 10 years, but we finally did it! It was an effort that began with the Anacostia Main Street organization and later picked up by the Historic Anacostia Block Association and the Anacostia Coordinating Council.

The signs look great! There are 20 signs installed that give a detailed history of the neighborhood. We are planning a ribbon cutting ceremony in July. If you are interested in helping join us on Thursday June 4^th at 6:30pm at 1800 MLK Ave for the planning meeting. 

Congratulations to the Greater Anacostia Neighborhoods and all the people who helped with the process! Of course, a special thanks to Cultural Tourism DC for leading the way and staying the course to get this done!

Right outside of the Frederick Douglass Home

Did you know there used to be parades held in Uniontown (aka Historic Anacostia)?

Old Market Square (14th St)

Churches played an important role in the neighborhood

20 signs = about 2 miles long

History of Rose's Row. A row of homes on U St

Perfect placement. This sign at the 11th St bride speaks to
John Booths escape after the assassination of President Lincoln

My favorite sign. Gives you a look into the gateway into the neighborhood

Can't leave out the Big Chair

Anacostia Heritage Trail - Delayed Again

Several years ago the greater Anacostia community began the exciting process to developing the Anacostia Heritage Trail. The trail is a program led by Cultural Tourism DC to highlight the history of DC neighborhoods. I am sure you seen the big signs posted on corners around the city. Well, Anacostia is next up to get our signs.

However, with the fluid circumstances of DC politics there is a chance the installation of our signs will be delayed. This is where we need your help. If you could simply copy and paste the below email to DDOT Director Bill Bellamy it would greatly appreciated. Director Bellamy is expected to resign from his post by the end of the month so it is important we make sure our Heritage Trail signs are on the top of his list for his final task.

We are hoping after the installation of the Anacostia trail, we can begin to get traction on starting the formulation of the Congress Heights Heritage Trail.

SAMPLE EMAIL

SEND TO: terry.bellamy@dc.gov

April 8, 2014

RE: Anacostia Heritage Trail

Mr. Bellamy,

My name is YOUR NAME and I am a resident of Anacostia. It's been over a year since Cultural Tourism DC - and the thirty-five members of the neighborhood working group -  completed work on the Anacostia Heritage Trail and turned it over to DDOT for fabrication and  installation.  Based on experience with previous Heritage Trails, it takes DDOT no more than five months to issue an RFP and to complete fabrication and installation of the signs.  And yet, in the full year that has elapsed since we turned this project over to you, not even the RFP has been issued.

We appreciate the work you have done for the city as Director of DDOT. We ask that before you leave your post please make the issuance of the RFP a top priority of your agency. We thank you for your time and attention.

 We look forward to the quick completion of our Heritage Trail.

 Regards,

YOUR NAME

Historic Anacostia Block Association (HABA) Meeting Tonight

Spring is Here...Well Almost!

Can you feel it...? Can you hear it...? Yup, the weather is getting a bit warmer and HABA is going to "spring" forward. We would like to invite you to our monthly meeting tomorrow night where the agenda will include the following:

1. Uniontown Bar & Grill: We recently found out there is a new restaurant owner for Uniontown Bar & Grill. Come get an update on the name change, menu options and theme of the new restaurant establishment set to open in early summer.

2. Anacostia Heritage Trail: This project is four years in the making and is almost complete! We will display poster proofs of all 20 Heritage Trail signs, fronts and backs, for your review. This is your opportunity to help us fact-check, spell-check, and get it as close to perfect as we can before final print.

Please invite your friends, family, and neighbors to TONIGHT's meeting! The meeting will be held at the Anacostia UPO Center located at 1649 Good Hope Rd., SE. The meeting will begin at 7pm.

Thanks,

Charles Wilson

President

Old Anacostia Heritage Trail is Back!

After a very long hiatus we are ready to begin working on the Old Anacostia Heritage Trail again!  We have scheduled a meeting for Thursday, April 12 (as part of the regular monthly HABA meeting) to fill everyone in on what’s next in the process. The details about the meeting are in the flyer (above). Please share this with your friends, family, and colleagues in the Ward! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 12!