
The title should say “to and from” Dupont Circle, but let’s not quibble over minor details. I was about to say “last month” when I realized that it’s August and the pictures I have to share today were taken in June. What happened to July? Anyway, way back in June, when I was commuting for two days from Silver Spring, MD to the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., I took the Metro’s Red Line train from Silver Spring to Dupont Circle. Along the short walk to the Cosmos Club, I passed a couple of blocks of brownstones and, of course, I paid attention to the doors.
Most of the doors were just your normal run of the mill entrance doors, but when homes are squished in side-by-side, people seem to go to great lengths to give their door, entrance, yard, etc. a look that will set it apart. It’s not the door, as much as it’s the whole package.
As I approached the Cosmos Club, I was surrounded by larger buildings with more impressive doors. The surprise door (would that be a door prize?) of the week was discovered by accident, as I was trying to get a better picture of the entrance to the Cosmos Club.
I walked across the street to get enough distance to bring the entire building into the frame, and I stepped into the driveway of the Anderson House. I waited forever for a lull in the traffic, and I snapped the photo I wanted. Since the Anderson House seemed to be a public space, I decided to walk over and get a picture of the front door.
This is what door freaks aficionados do. We are people who used to settle for pictures of interesting buildings who have mutated evolved into people for whom a building seems to be made interesting by its doors. This is due to exposure to the main carrier of the door addiction virus, Norm Frampton. Norm is not just a carrier, he’s equally infected. In fact, we celebrate his contribution each week on Thursdays by visiting his site. We pet the blue frog that stands guard, and we view a vast amount of doors, contributed from all over the world.
Only after I took the photo of the front door, did I notice the amazing doors that control access to the driveway. How I could have missed these doors remains a mystery. I’ll chalk it up to being preoccupied with the traffic.
The Anderson House is the headquarters of the The Society of the Cincinnati. From their website:
“The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members. Now a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the principles and ideals of its founders, the modern Society maintains its headquarters, library, and museum at Anderson House in Washington, D.C.”
One of the early members of the society, Major Pierre L’Enfant, a French officer who joined the American Army in 1777, served in the Corps of Engineers, later was involved in the planning and design of the city of Washington, D.C.
I mention Mr. L’Enfant because he has a connection to Thursday Doors. One of my earliest contributions to this remarkable blogfest was a post about the doors of The Lockkeeper’s House in Washington, D.C. The canal system of which the locks were a part, was designed by Pierre L’Enfant.
Terrific photos as usual Dan
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ian!
LikeLike
That is such a pretty area. I magine you saw more doors than you could shoot Dan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could have stayed all day, Cheryl. But I worry when snapping doors of private homes. I used my phone and kept walking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did the right thing. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a treasure trove. I look forward to Thursday Doors – who knew that would ever happen, eh?!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Who knew indeed! I never thought I’d be looking for doors. But, it makes me slow down and take notice, so I guess it’s a good thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I definitely believe it is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. When my eyes first caught sight of your posting in the Reader, I immediately recognized the photo of the ceiling of the Metro in DC and was a little confused. Had I read the post’s title, I would have realized why. I have walked around Dupont Circle a fair amount over the years and it is a wonderful area to explore on foot, with interesting architecture and a fascinating assortment of people. Had this not been a Thursday, I think you could have titled today’s offering “A Washington post.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be a good title for a post, Mike. I don’t know why, but I really like the look of the underground Metro stations. I don’t imagine they’d like me camped out taking pictures, though. Dupont Circle is a pretty area.
LikeLike
The honeycombed pattern of the ceiling in the metro is pretty distinctive and I’ve taken photos of it with both digital and film cameras.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a series of shots like this, grabbed quickly with my iPhone. The stations are very pretty, and compared to Boston and New York, clean and bright. However, emerging up onto the hot and humid streets is an experience that’s hard for those cities to match. As much as I wanted to stop and take pictures, I also wanted to get to the next air-conditioned space.
LikeLike
Great collection Dan. That Anderson house in particular really caught my eye – the entrance is just stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Norm. It’s almost completely walled off from view from the street. If I hadn’t been trying to get a better angle on the club, I would have missed it entirely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great captures my door aficionado friend 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Val!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a regular door smorgasbord. Love the green trim. But I’m guessing those driveway doors with the arched tops made your carpenter pulse quicken. :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Judy. When I see doors like that, I start imagining building them, hanging them (I never imagine painting them). I love the ways people make their place special.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I do so love row houses. Who doesn’t love row houses? They’re so charming! I do love the dressed up door the most, but the best photo is probably the train — that’s a great shot. :)
Really like that Discovery Channel area as well — very MC Escher kinda vibe, given your perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like these doors. I wanted to get closer, but lots of people were leaving for work and I didn’t want to look like the creepy guy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, yeah, I get that :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dupont Circle is wonderful. Great photos, Dan–especially Que Street. So upscale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lois. Some people aren’t meant to live on Q St.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful collection of homes – some people really put effort into enhancing the look of their entrance. However, it’s the interior shot of the gates to the Anderson House that make the *wow* for me. It’s a shame that the magnificent entrance to Anderson House is hidden from view until you venture inside the gates, but there’s something about a courtyard and the gates that lead to it that capture my imagination!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joanne. It was amazing how private it felt inside those gates and behind that wall. I shake my head when I think I almost walked past without seeing them at all.
LikeLike
I know the feeling. I wonder how many things we’ve missed because we simply walked on by …
LikeLike
Dan, you are so right about the Anderson House driveway doors! What a beauty. I wasn’t familiar with the Society of the Cincinnati. That description lends itself to all manner of speculative thought. Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are beautiful doors, Teagan. The Society sounds a little snooty, but I guess they’re entitled.
LikeLike
Beautiful area for doors, Dan! As far as I can remember you showed a pic about the inside of the Cosmos club before, but not about the surroundings.The atmosphere seems similar as parts of Amsterdam, where history and wealth rules!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. This area seems to have many old mansions that serve a different purpose today. The single homes (tow house) are beautiful.
LikeLike
That green train station is a little trippy isn’t it? I remember your L’Enfant post! Serendipitous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It’s funny how these posts start to circle back on themselves. I still like the Lockkeeper’s house
LikeLike
Super doors. I love Du Pont Circle. Thanks, Dan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John. It’s a pretty area, for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be a sweet entry to come home to every day. So beautiful. Loved the reflection one, as well, and the shade of green in those ceiling tiles….stunning. Great walk today, Dan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Audrey.
LikeLike
Ugh, I pressed send too soon. I was trying to get these pictures on the run, and without arousing suspicion from the residents.
LikeLike
Giggle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your doors today, Dan. I’ve seen the subway photos in person, so this makes me want to visit D.C. again. Maybe next spring. I’ll go hunting for doors in Arlington. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. There are so many pretty sections. I like the Metro. I’d love to be able to commute by subway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie and commented:
Stupid me. Worked in DC in early April. More interested in keeping dry in rain.
LikeLike
Interesting doors as usual this week! To me, the sixth picture titled Andson House is one of the bests. 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It is an amazing house.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The walk was lovely. The history on the Anderson House is quite interesting. I’d never heard of it before. I think the gates are lovely!
The metro station with the green hue felt futuristic, cool perspective shot.
I left a couple of comments on the image pages. I do that because I’ll forget what I wanted to say, an saw by the time I get back here. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Deborah. I saw the comments. I’m on my phone, so I’ll have to reply later but I appreciate them. It’s funny that one of my favorite places in DC is a subway station, but I really like them.
LikeLike
The Anderson House-wow! I know of the Society of the Cincinnati, but had no idea it was located there. Their china is famous. Beautiful doors post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. I had never heard of them, but that’s part of the fun, learning new things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved all those doors, Dan, but that shot of the Metro is fabulous. Brilliant angle, it would make a great poster.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jean. I love the inside of those stations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anderson House has so much fodder for doors and beauty abounds! I loved the black rod iron lamp fixtilure inside arched black doors. The stonework engravings or details are stunning.
I liked the Que Street door, like salmon or pale pink dove color, along with the green tunnel of the Metro Red Line.
The house you say it would be sweet to call home really does have a beautiful door! Finally, there’s a cream colored townhouse that has red stucco Italian tiles on its roof!! Wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a lot of beauty in that area. Thanks for visiting and commenting. It’s funny when people point out the colors. I like the Que St door, but, apparently, I have no idea what color it is. I’ll take your word for it :-)
LikeLike
The black grillwork arch which has the rod iron lamp hanging in it adds to the whole effect with connecting circles in its pattern. I went back to study this and also, “fixture” was the word my fingers meant to type. Thanks, Dan for this plethora of doors to study! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again Robin – I hope you have a great week.
LikeLike