landmark
National Mall
America's front yard stretching from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments, memorials, and Smithsonian museums.
1 km · about 5 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesDistrict of Columbia
The Wharf
District of Columbia, United States · North America
About The Wharf
The Wharf works well as a base: 1km from National Mall.
The Wharf is in District of Columbia, United States, with about 11,000 people. You drive on the right here.
The District Wharf, commonly known simply as The Wharf, is a multi-billion dollar mixed-use development on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. It contains the city's historic Maine Avenue Fish Market, hotels, residential buildings, restaurants, shops, parks, piers, docks and marinas, and live music venues.Read more
The first phase of The Wharf opened in October 2017 and the second and final phase was completed in October 2022. The neighborhood encompasses 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of land, 50 acres (20 hectares) of water, and contain 3.2 million square feet (300,000 m2) of retail, residential, and entertainment space along 1 mile (1.6 km) of the Potomac River shoreline from the Francis Case Memorial Bridge to Fort McNair.
The idea of redeveloping the waterfront gained momentum with District officials in the early 2000s when the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation was created to oversee the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood. The redevelopment was intended to reconnect the neglected and isolated portions of the southwest quadrant with downtown Washington, D.C., and make the area accessible and attractive to pedestrians while enhancing the existing community. Developers named the project at the suggestion of D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who recalled that this section of neighborhood was known as The Wharf during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Where to Stay in The Wharf
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near The Wharf?
Within an hour or so of The Wharf: National Mall (1 km), Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (1 km), National Gallery of Art (1 km), Smithsonian Museums (1 km).
Where is The Wharf?
The Wharf is in District of Columbia, United States.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 11,274
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- District of Columbia
- Timezone
- America/New_York
- Coordinates
- 38.8791, -77.0249
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from The Wharf
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Home to the Hope Diamond and over 148 million specimens, making it one of the world's premier natural history collections.
1 km · about 5 min drive
museum
National Gallery of Art
A free world-class museum on the National Mall featuring masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas.
1 km · about 5 min drive
museum
Smithsonian Museums
The world's largest museum complex with 21 museums and galleries, all free, including the Air and Space Museum and Natural History Museum.
1 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Jefferson Memorial
Neoclassical domed memorial on the Tidal Basin dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence.
1 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Washington Monument
Towering 169-metre marble obelisk on the National Mall honouring America's first president, George Washington.
1 km · about 5 min drive
museum
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
The world's most visited aerospace museum, displaying the Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, and Apollo 11 command module.
1 km · about 5 min drive
museum
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Preserves America's heritage with iconic artifacts including the Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln's top hat.
1 km · about 5 min drive
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