Capitol Hill Restoration Society records

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) formed in 1955 as an advocacy group with the goal of preserving the character and architecture of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Prior to 1955 citizens' associations had existed including the Capitol Hill Southeast Citizens' Association and the Southeast Civic Association. The CHRS, however, filled a specific role as a public forum for residents to promote and protect the predominately residential character of the community. One of the most significant achievements towards this goal was the placement of the Capitol Hill neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Thereafter residents were required to obtain permission to make changes to the exterior of their houses. This ensures that the physical look of the houses reflect the historical integrity of the time period in which they were built.

Prior to 1791 when Pierre Charles L'Enfant was hired to design the city of Washington D.C., the land now known as Capitol Hill was farmland. Many of the neighborhood's first residents were the construction workers hired to build the Capitol. In 1799 the building of the Navy Yard brought in additional jobs and residents. Following the Civil War, the population of the Capitol Hill neighborhood increased steadily as the Federal Government grew and the Navy Yard became the world's largest ordnance producer and engineering research center. The growth of the Federal Government and its need for building space led to the demolition of many of the original buildings in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Fortunately, many of the late 19th and early 20th Century buildings, especially the homes, remain. The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) story begins with the restoration movement that followed World War II. The CHRS mission is a good summary of the type of work done by the organization. The mission includes protecting Capitol Hill's residential character by challenging threatening and inappropriate development and incursions into the neighborhood by increased cross-town traffic, helping residents to protect their property values, and offers advice on the maintenance and repair of historic buildings, ensuring that city-wide zoning regulations are applied consistently, in a manner that enhances the neighborhood, working to improve city services such as tree and park maintenance, street repairs, trash collection, and recycling and engages in community issues like public safety, surplus school disposal, and organizing activities like the annual House and Garden Tour that promote Capitol Hill as a fine residential community.