Tenleytown



Tenleytown is the historic name for a neighborhood in northwest Washington, DC.

In 1790, Washington locals began calling the neighborhood "Tennally's Town" after area tavern owner John Tennally. Over time, the spelling has evolved and by the 19th century the area was commonly known by its current name, although the spelling Tennallytown continued to be used for some time in certain capacities, including streetcars through the 1920s.

The area is the site of Fort Reno and Fort Bayard, two of the forts that formed a ring around Washington D.C. during the Civil War to protect the capital against invasions. Both forts were decommissioned with the surrender of the Confederate armies that had threatened Washington, and today Fort Reno presently serves as a reservoir. Within the reservoir boundaries lies the highest point in the District of Columbia, 429 feet above sea level.

Tenleytown and adjacent American University Park are served by the Tenleytown-AU stop on the Washington Metro Red Line. The mostly residential area has been called the "town" for American University, which lies approximately one mile to the west in the Spring Valley neighborhood. A free shuttle bus runs between the Metro stop and the university's main campus.

The neighborhood is centered around Tenley Circle which lies at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and Yuma Street. On Tenley Circle itself is St. Ann Catholic Church, a large imposing stone church which serves area Catholics. On the opposite side of the circle is Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church. American University's Tenley Campus, formerly the Immaculata School, also bounds the western edge of the circle.

Tenleytown was transformed in 1941 when Sears Roebuck opened its department store on Wisconsin Avenue at Albemarle Street. At the time the store was notable for its size and for its rooftop parking. In the 1990s, Sears abandoned its retail operation at the location and the building was used by Hechinger's hardware until its demise in the late 1990s. In the 2000s, the building was converted to a mixed-use development complex, with luxury condos on the top level; and a Best Buy, a Container Store, and an Ace Hardware at street level. The west entrance to the Metro stop is at the front of the building.

Education
The area is served by the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Tenleytown is zoned to:
 * Janney Elementary School
 * Deal Junior High School
 * Woodrow Wilson High School

Tenleytown is the location of some major independent schools, such as Sidwell Friends School and Georgetown Day School.