18th century Historically, the Anacostia River was once a deep water
channel with natural resources and home to the
Nacotchtank Indians. In 1791
Pierre Charles L’Enfant designed the plan for Washington, D.C., and, recognizing the assets of the Anacostia River, located the city's new commercial center and
wharfs there. In 1799 the Washington Navy Yard was established in the area. It was the nation's largest naval
shipbuilding facility for several decades. Today the Washington Navy Yard is the
U.S. Navy's longest continuously operated federal facility. Navy Yard was Washington's earliest industrial neighborhood. One of the earliest industrial buildings was the eight-story brick Sugar House, built in Square 744 at the foot of New Jersey Avenue SE as a sugar refinery in 1797–98.
19th century , built in 1891 In 1805, the Sugar House became the Washington Brewery, which produced beer until it closed in 1836. The brewery site was just west of the
Washington City Canal in what is now Parking Lot H/I in the block between
Nationals Park and the historic DC Water pumping station. The Navy Yard was a bustling nautical center during the 19th century and played an integral role in developing the area. The lively wharf was a hub for jobs, serving ships with
lumber and raw materials for the growing city. It also played a key role in defending the city from the
British during the
War of 1812. Surrounding the wharves was an extensive commercial district, light industrial businesses, and one of the city's most significant neighborhood communities. As the city and nation evolved, the Navy Yard changed from shipbuilding to production of finished ship products and weapons ammunition.
20th century By the mid‑1940s, the Navy Yard and the expanded Annex area reached peak production with 26,000 employees in 132 buildings on of land.
21st century headquarters, built in 2007. Redevelopment began in earnest in the early 2000s, leading to the displacement of the industrial uses and adult-entertainment district. A major spur to redevelopment was a requirement of the Department of the Navy that contractors locate offices within a short distance of the Navy Yard. The construction of the
U.S. Department of Transportation office complex and
Nationals Park, the 2008 $600 million stadium of the
Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team, have stimulated growth in the neighborhood. Most of the neighborhood's land and businesses have been purchased by companies and is currently being developed into commercial and residential projects. Current plans are to construct 12 to of office space, 9,000 residential units, 1,200 hospitality rooms, of retail space, four public parks, and an Anacostia Riverwalk trail system. In 2001, the
Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg public housing development was closed, for redevelopment which opened in 2008. of the
Washington Metro. In 2007, The
United States Department of Transportation (USDoT) relocated to the area with a new headquarters on
New Jersey Avenue.
The Yards, a public-private development, began construction in 2007 and the entire project is to be completed in three phases over 10–20 years.
Nationals Park, home of the
Washington Nationals, opened in 2008. In 2013, the neighborhood was the site of the
Washington Navy Yard shooting. In 2021, Navy Yard was subjected to another shooting outside
Nationals Park, injuring three. The new
Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge was completed in 2021 . ==Geography==