The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is pleased to recognize the Shaw neighborhood in Northwest Washington as the June 2014 One City Location of the Month. Shaw’s mix of beautiful Victorian rowhouses with big front porches and pockets of commercial development on tree-lined streets embodies the charm and diversity of the nation’s capital.
The Shaw neighborhood is located just north of downtown and is anchored by the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on 9th Street, NW and the U Street corridor, the new commercial hub of the neighborhood. Shaw, rich in history, was named after Civil War Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who was the commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Like much of the District, Shaw experienced an extended period of decline in the mid-twentieth century due to the shift of population and retail to the suburbs and the 1968 riots. The area became characterized by boarded and vacant buildings, liquor stores, fast food carry-outs, and used car lots. However, in the past decade, Shaw has experienced a renaissance and has become one of the District’s most vibrant and attractive communities.
Among Shaw’s most treasured and attractive landmarks to film are the recently renovated Howard Theatre (April 2012 Location of the Month), the legendary 9:30 Club, the historic Howard University campus, and the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl (March 2011 Location of the Month). Additionally, the Greater U Street Historic District (listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998), extending roughly from 16th Street on the west to 7th Street on the east and from S Street on the south to Florida Avenue on the north, includes more than 1,500 historic buildings. Today the U Street Corridor is a vibrant collection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, galleries and residences, which make this neighborhood an ideal place to capture the essence of the nation’s capital on film.
In 2011, the DC Film Office launched One City Location of the Month to bring attention to the wide range of varied, cinematically compelling locations that are available to film and television productions. Former One City Location of the Month recipients include the Kingman and Heritage Islands in Southeast, the US National Arboretum in Northeast, Smithsonian Institution Building in Southwest, and the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Northwest.
To learn more about the Shaw neighborhood and to view photos, please visit the One City Location of the Month feature on our web site. If you are interested in using Shaw for a future filming location, please contact us at [email protected].