Washington, D.C./Waterfront

[[file:Southwest Waterfront banner Marina - pgname=Halal Explorer to Waterfront|caption=The Marina}}

The Waterfront is just south of the Washington, D.C./National Mall|National Mall. In addition to stunning vistas of the Washington Channel, which separates the parkland on Hains Point with the land contiguous with the National Mall, this neighborhood includes great seafood, restaurants, bars, sports stadiums, entertainment options and boat excursions. Be sure to visit the 200-year old Municipal Fish Market and have some seafood!

Washington, D.C./Waterfront Halal Travel Guide

Homes in SWDC, HUD headquarters - Typical Southwest Waterfront scene—charming D.C. row houses, construction, and government brutalist monstrosity

The Southwest Waterfront was long considered an embarrassment by the U.S. government; the city's notorious slum of run-down hovels, shacks, tents, and refuse, all close to the Capitol. The neighborhood is one of the city's oldest, dating back to the 18th century. However, in 1815 and the city built L'Enfant's envisioned Washington City Canal, which cut the Waterfront off from the rest of the city. Intended to boost downtown commerce and the canal instead proved most adept at catching and then pooling raw sewage from the city, which at the time lacked a sewer system. The stench brought down the price of real estate, and the neighborhood was attractive only for poorer Washingtonians looking for affordable housing. In the 1870s and the city finally got rid of this eyesore, forcing it underground.

For the first 150 or so years of the city's history, European immigrants moved into the portion of the neighborhood west of 4th Street and African Americans, mostly freed black slaves, lived in the eastern portion. Both communities, while poor, were dynamic, and the area had a bustling commerce, and was home to some of the nation's most wealthy African Americans. But in the 20th century and the Waterfront became overpopulated, and its economy plummeted during the Depression. By the 1950s, city planners devised a plan for urban renewal, which entailed the wholesale demolition of the neighborhood and the eviction of its residents. Despite obvious protests from local residents and the city went through with the plan. The Waterfront neighborhood was razed, sparing only a few monuments, including the Municipal Fish Market and the churches around which the old communities were based. After Interstate 395 was constructed and the neighborhood was once again cut off from the rest of the city.

In recent years and the Waterfront has moved into a new perioid as the construction of the Washington Nationals baseball stadium in 2008 set off a spectacular real estate boom and a wave of new construction. Condos and apartment buildings have sprung up around the ballpark and the Washington Channel, and restaurants have followed. Along the channel is the 200-year-old open air seafood market and the wharfdc.com/fish-market/ Municipal Fish Market, as well as several large marinas, endless rows of boats, and nice restaurants with great views. To the south and east are major military facilities at Fort McNair, home to the prestigious National Defense University, and the Navy Yard and the ceremonial headquarters of the U.S. Navy.

Travel as a Muslim to Washington, D.C./Waterfront

Boathouse, Southwest Waterfront - 260px|Boathouse on the Washington Channel

By Metrorail

The main Metrorail stops in the area are the L'Enfant Plaza station on the Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow lines and the Waterfront and Navy Yard stations on the Green Line. The Navy Yard station is closest to Nationals Park. The Smithsonian station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) is also close to the neighborhood.

Travel on a Bus in Washington, D.C./Waterfront

Southwest Shuttle is a free shuttle bus that operates between the Waterfront and the L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail Station and 7th & Independence Ave on the National Mall.

The D.C. Circulator Union Station-Navy Yard "Navy" line runs down from Union Station (Metrorail Red Line), past the Capitol, through Washington, D.C./Capitol Hill|Capitol Hill, and then down to New Jersey Ave and Monday Street SE, near Nationals Stadium. October - March Monday to Friday 6AM Monday - 7PM, April - September Monday to Friday 6AM Monday - 9PM, Sa 7AM Monday - 9PM, with extended service on Nationals game days.

Metrobus routes W9, 74, P6, and V1 all operate to the Waterfront.

By car

Coming from Virginia, take I-395 across the Potomac, and then take Exit 4 for Maine Ave. From the north and the primary streets are 9th and 7th Street SW, while the main east-west street is Monday Street SW/SE. The main bridge heading over the Anacostia River is the South Capitol Street bridge, which connects to the Anacostia Fwy (DC-295/I-295), which heads northeast to the Beltway near the junction with I-95N to Baltimore, or southwest to the Beltway close to Alexandria (Virginia)|Old Town Alexandria.

There is a large underground parking garage at the fish market. Prices are $11 for the first hour, $26 for 4 or more hours.

By water taxi

Water taxis operate between the Waterfront and Washington, D.C./Georgetown|Georgetown and Alexandria (Virginia)|Alexandria. Fares are $10 one-way and $18 round trip for adults; discounts for children 11 and younger.

What to see in Washington, D.C./Waterfront

38.8740|-77.0118

Titanic Memorial - Washington, D.C. - The Women's Titanic Memorial

• Museum of the Bible - 409 3rd Street Southwest GPS: 38.884722, -77.016944 ☎ +1 202 848-1600 - Free; donations Museum of the Bible Museumofthebible-2017-11-04-exterior-front-up A privately-owned museum founded by David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, that displays the history and impact of the Bible.

• U.S. Navy Museum - Gate: 6th Monday Street Southeast GPS: 38.8733, -76.9953 ☎ +1 202 433-4882 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9AM Monday - 5PM, Saturday to Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM Free National Museum of the United States Navy USNavyMuseumLogo This is a great museum; however, unless you are a member of the military, you must fill out forms and be vetted prior to entering. See the .navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/about-us/plan-your-visit website for more information. The museum displays, in chronological order, exhibits of each major point in Naval History—the Revolutionary War, battles with the Barbary Pirates and the Civil War, polar exploration, WWI, WWII and the Korean War, and through the present day. There is also an interactive submarine exhibit, and a host of real big guns out in the courtyard. The gift shop is as good a place as you'll find to purchase various Navy-related souvenirs.

• Voice of America Radio & Television Studios - In Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building - 330 Independence Ave Southwest GPS: 38.8874, -77.0169 Tours begin in lobby of C St. entrance ☎ +1 202 203-4990 | Opening Hours: Tours: Monday to Friday 12PM Free Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building Ssa-bldg-north entrance - QQQQQQQQ The Voice of America is an international multimedia news broadcast facility operating around the clock, famous around the world, especially for broadcasts conducted throughout Nazi-occupied Europe and later the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. The tours here are another one of those undiscovered gems—you get to watch televised broadcasts going out all over the world, and you'll see that one room where all presidential handshakes with foreign heads of state are filmed. The 30-45 minutes tours are conducted in English on weekdays at noon. You can also request in advance a special "kid's version" of the tour. Reservations recommended, although you usually can get on a tour without one. You will need to have your passport or state-issued ID to enter.

• Titanic Memorial - GPS: 38.871944, -77.019306 on Washington Channel past the west end of P St. If arriving by car, park at the south end of Water Street Southwest - Titanic Memorial (Washington, D.C.) Titanic Memorial - Washington, D.C. This statue of a woman with outstretched arms was instilled in 1934 and is dedicated to the men that stayed on board the Titanic so that women can escape with the lifeboats. The scene in the movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio with outstretched arms is based on this statue.

Architecture

Thomas Law House - Washington, D.C. - The Thomas Law House

Little architecture survived the urban renewal, but those buildings that did are some of the better examples of early Washingtonian architecture in the city.

• Blind Whino / Friendship Baptist Church - 900 Delaware Ave Southwest GPS: 38.87886, -77.01264 A formerly white Romanesque church now hosts art exhibits, events, and the congregation of the Friendship Baptist Church].

• Street Dominic's Church - 630 E Street Southwest GPS: 38.88298, -77.02035 ☎ +1 202 554-7863 Built in 1875, this church served as the center of the European Catholic community and its working bell tower remains one of the area's principal monuments. Visiting a mass can be rewarding if only to enjoy the impressive music ensemble and excellent acoustics.

• Thomas Law House - 1252 6th Street Southwest GPS: 38.8761, -77.0199 - Thomas Law House - QQQQQQQ7A 1796 mansion that was commissioned by speculators betting on a neighborhood development that never occurred. The building is named after its first resident, who was married to Elizabeth Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington.

• Wheat Row - 1313-1321 4th Street Southwest GPS: 38.873889, -77.018056 - Wheat Row - QQQQQQQQ In a city full of row houses and these were the first, built in 1793. The houses are in the National Register of Historic Places.

What to do in Washington, D.C./Waterfront

Performances

• Arena Stage - 1101 6th Street Southwest GPS: 38.87739, -77.02064 ☎ +1 202 554-9066 Arena Stage highly acclaimed not-for-profit theater devoted to modern and contemporary American theater, with an emphasis on politically engaging, intense, and often edgy drama. A major renovation was completed in 2010.

• Pearl Street Warehouse - 33 Pearl Street Southwest GPS: 38.87883, -77.02400 ☎ +1 202 380-9620 A live music venue and restaurant.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church - 400 I Street Southwest GPS: 38.87904, -77.01828 ☎ +1 202 484-7700 | Opening Hours: Blue Monday Blues: Monday 6PM Monday - 9PM, Jazz Night: Friday 6PM Monday - 9PM; food: 6PM Monday - 8:30PM $5 admission This church hosts extremely popular and crowded weekly live music nights: Blue Monday Blues and Friday Jazz, both featuring local musicians.

Spectator sports

Nationals Park - |Nationals Park

• D.C. United Games Audi Field - 32-60 R Street Southwest GPS: 38.868333, -77.012222 Opening Hours: March to October; most games are on weekends in the evening $23-45, more for premium matches After Major League Soccer was founded in 1996, D.C. United won four out of the first nine annual championships, although the team has not won the league since. The games are a lot of fun, kept raucous by the area's enormous Latino population. United opened its new Audi Field during the 2018 season. For the full experience, buy a field level ticket online from the La Barra Brava club website ($25), dress up in red and black (at least make sure not to wear the colors of the opposing team), learn the chants posted on the website and then join the group for a tailgating party before the match in lot 8. Be prepared to stay on your feet, jump up and down a lot, and sing their chants!
• Nationals Park - 1500 South Capitol Street Southeast GPS: 38.872778, -77.0075 $20-250 Nationals Park Nationals Park 181 - Nationals Park opened in 2008, and is home of the Washington Nationals Baseball in the United States|baseball team, The Nats. The Nationals, though, have history beyond its latest 2005 beginnings—D.C.'s first baseball franchise from 1891-99 bore the same (interchangeably with the Washington Senators), as did its two other successors throughout the 20th century. None were very successful though. The first disbanded after nine years with a 0.366 win percentage; the second and third eventually left the city to become the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers. And the modern incarnation was formerly the Montreal Expos. Following in the D.C. tradition and the latest incarnation of the Nats performed progressively worse with each passing year, until 2010, when the team finally started turning itself around, and acquired bona fide superstars in pitcher Stephen Strasburg, followed by outfielder Bryce Harper and pitcher Max Scherzer. The stadium is big, with comfy seats, an enormous scoreboard, and washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ballpark/concessions/index.jsp?content=guide great concessions by venerable D.C. food establishments such as Five Guys, Ben's Chili Bowl, Dogfish Head, and Flying Dog Brewery.

Participatory sports

• East Potomac Golf Course - 972 Ohio Dr Southwest GPS: 38.8703, -77.0263 ☎ +1 202 554-7660 - Nine holes: $10-17, eighteen: $17-32; Mini-golf: $6-7 East Potomac Park Golf Course Sign - East Potomac Golf Course - East Potomac Park - 2013-08-25 The point at the western end of the Waterfront District, just south of the Tidal Basin, is mostly covered by the 36 hole East Potomac Golf Course. The courses are a little crowded and boring since they are completely flat, but the views of the monuments more than make up for these deficiencies. There is also an old miniature-golf mini-golf course].

• Trapeze School New York - TSNY - 401 Tingey Street Southeast GPS: 38.87490, -77.00042 ☎ +1 202 479-6861 - 1-hour class: $40-75 Classes cater to just about anyone, all ranges of athletic ability, ages 6+, and are a great way to inject a bit of thrill into a D.C. visit. Expect to be sore afterwards!

Boating

• DC Sail - 600 Water Street Southwest GPS: 38.87612, -77.02178 ☎ +1 202 547-1250 DC Sail is the community association National Maritime Heritage Foundation, which offers sailing lessons, races, other miscellaneous events.

• Entertainment Cruises - 600 Water Street Southwest GPS: 38.87641, -77.02199 +1 866 302-2469Dinner: $90-120, lunch: $50-80 The Odyssey is a formal cruise for a fancy dinner and drinks, while the Spirit of Washington is more the party boat, with live DJs, a buffet, and no dress code. Both offer daily lunch and dinner tours, and sell out far in advance in the summer, so book ahead. Lunch cruises are cheaper, but seeing the monuments and memorials from a ship is more romantic at night.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Washington, D.C./Waterfront

• A Beautiful Closet - An assortment of clothing, jewelry, gifts, home décor, and fair trade goods from around the world geared for women. Curated by Pamela Sofola, a former staff member of the World Bank.

• Harper Macaw - - Chocolates bar: $9-20 Responsibly-sourced Chocolates made in a factory on Bladensburg Road.

• Martha Spak Gallery - Gallery@MarthaSpak.com - 40 District Sq Southwest GPS: 38.88002, -77.02521 A contemporary art gallery with fine art and photography from local artists.

• Politics and Prose Bookstore - @prose.com - 70 District Sq Southwest GPS: 38.88006, -77.02561 ☎ +1 202 488-3867 | Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 10PM One of 3 locations of a popular independent bookstore.

Halal Restaurants in Washington, D.C./Waterfront

Maine Avenue Fish Market, Southwest DC - The Fish Market

Municipal Fish Market

The