Welcome to H Street NE

Martin Luther King, Jr.
After the assassination of Martin Luther King, riots broke out in DC. Fires and looting was rampant on H Street and forced many businesses and residents to relocate.

H Street, NE is one of DC’s earliest and busiest commercial corridors – hosting one of the original streetcar lines in DC. During the early part of the 20th century, the neighborhood boomed as businesses relocated to the area and middle class families found affordably priced homes in a safe and clean environment.

The face of H Street changed profoundly on April 4, 1968 after the death of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Upon the news of his death, riots spread across DC – most resulting in significant property damage, looting, and eventually widespread fires. Thousands of District businesses and homes were destroyed during the four-day riots, with H Street, NE experiencing much of the damage. After the riots ended, hundreds of businesses and homes in the neighborhood were destroyed, and families and business owners fled the area in droves.

Although H Street, NE has long been in an economic resurgence, the introduction of the DC Main Streets program in 2002, which led to H Street Main Street in 2003, has ushered in a new phase in the life of H Street. Businesses that have survived since the riots of 1968 have been assisted with facelifts and expansion projects, older buildings have been rehabilitated into stylish apartments and condominiums, a new and exciting arts and entertainment district has revitalized historic buildings, and new shops and restaurants have been moving in to take advantage of the unique and exciting atmosphere of this historic neighborhood.