Washington DC
Brookland

The Brookland neighborhood gets its name from Colonel Jehiel Brooks, a prominent lawyer and War of 1812 veteran who settled in the area and became a farmer and horticulturist. His home, the three-story Greek Revival Brooks Mansion at 901 Newton Street NE, still stands. After Brooks’ death in 1886, developers bought his large estate and subdivided it into lots. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ran its tracks through Brooks’ farm, and opened a station there. But the neighborhood gets much of its character from Catholic University, which was established on property just north of Brooks’ farm in the 1880s. In the early-to-mid-20th century, the presence of numerous Catholic organizations in the area, and the religious men and women who walked through the neighborhood in robes, led locals to call it “Little Rome.” In recent years, Brookland has evolved into a walkable, bike-friendly neighborhood with a small business district of restaurants, bars, art and dance studios. The selection of housing includes brick row homes, bungalows and Victorians.