Welcome to
Historic Chevy Chase DC
HCCDC is celebrating more than 35 years as a nonprofit historical society conducting research and documenting the history, design architecture, landscape, streetscape and development of Chevy Chase DC, a lovely circa-1907 community in Northwest Washington DC.
We have captured more than 30 oral histories of our residents, conducted a rigorous research study of the community’s desire for a Historic District, organize history-related talks and events and conduct a popular Historic Walking Tour every September, among many other activities. We welcome your involvement and interest!
Latest News
Chevy Chase at 250: A Four-Part Webinar Series
A Century-by-Century Examination of History in Chevy Chase DC In recognition of the nation’s 250th year as a democracy, Historic Chevy Chase DC conducted a four-part webinar series in 2026 …
Zoom Webinar April 23: Windows 250
Join us this Wednesday, April 23, for a 7 p.m. Zoom webinar being hosted by the Chevy Chase Community Association about the “WINDOWS 250” project that helps frame conversations about future development of the civic core with an understanding of our community’s exclusionary history.
“Eighty, Meet 18” Presents at DC History Conference
The next best thing to sitting down for coffee with a fascinating person is to sit down with their oral history and let their stories and memories unfurl. A new …
New Oral Histories Program Announced
Eighty, Meet 18: Seniors Talk, Youth Listen, and a Valuable Collection is Born HCCDC is starting a new inter-generational oral history collection in Chevy Chase DC this fall involving residents …
Joan Janshego Longtime HCCDC Secretary, Dies
Joan Solomon Janshego, HCCDC secretary for more than two decades, passed away Sept. 14, 2026, after learning she had cancer earlier this year. A native of a small town in western Pennsylvania. She fell in love with Chevy Chase in 1983 because she saw the same tree-lined streets and older homes of her youth. An interest in oral histories was sparked by Joan listening to her immigrant grandmother talk about her life in Romania and the unusual circumstances of her journey to the United States. In retirement, Joan volunteered at the National Gallery of Art, helped immigrant families and was a lifelong learner, taking courses at Georgetown University and Ollie. Joan had had an eclectic career – working for two congressmen, teaching high school, and running a homeless shelter at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church as a volunteer. But her major occupation was as an Employee Relations Specialist at the National Archives for 23 years. She earned a BA in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Communications: Journalism and Public Affairs from American University. Her family home since the late 1980s was on 33rd Street across the street from Lafayette Elementary School.
NEW! Read about the latest intrigues of Chevy Chase DC’s past in Cate Toups Atkinson’s most recent blog post. Reach her at cate.atkinson@gmail.com
The Northampton White Oak: Old Enough
RIP circa 1814 – 2024 The fabled old Northampton Oak gave up its secrets on a sweltering Monday morning in July. Waiting until no one was watching, it pierced the …
Our Projects
HCCDC’s initiative to recognize the history of Black landowners forced out in 1928 to create Lafayette Park includes a plan to rename the park to Lafayette-Pointer Park. The letter above was written in 1829 by George Pointer, a slave who bought his own freedom at age 17 and whose descendants settled on Broad Branch.
House Histories
HCCDC’s online archives hold a growing collection of social and architectural histories of Chevy Chase DC houses, including Pam and Carl Lankowski’s 1919 kit house on McKinley Street.
Historic House Plaques
Join Us!
An annual contribution of just $45 a year supports our valuable work.
