Join our walking tours on October 17-18 to learn about Capitol Hill’s historic architecture, or its hidden alleyways or its development from the end of the Civil War through the 1920s. Or buy tickets to our newest walking tour, a look at history, notable people and architecture along Fifth Street between Stanton Park and Seward Square.
Buy tickets through Eventbrite. Tours begin at 1:30 and will happen rain or shine!
These tours are presented by volunteers from Capitol Hill Restoration Society as a way to highlight our wonderful neighborhood. We want people to appreciate the rich history and the beautiful architecture so that we will continue to protect and preserve the area in and around the Historic District.
Got leaky windows? Rusted steps? Pests or rats? Perhaps the most difficult part of owning an old house is finding experts to work on it.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s annual House Expo aims to connect homeowners with service providers and contractors who can help. This year’s Expo is set for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the North Hall of historic Eastern Market. The event is free and open to the public.
“It can be tough to find the right people to fix problems in older homes,” CHRS President Angie Schmidt said. “We want to help homeowners find solutions or start thinking about new projects.”
Exhibitors planning to attend provide services including painting and paint stripping, roofing, brick and stone masonry, ornamental ironworking, electrical work, chimney cleaning, carpentry and architecture. Stained glass restoration or creation is an addition this year, as is historic window repair. Community Forklift, D.C. area’s nonprofit reuse center for home improvement supplies, is also signed up to exhibit.
At the event, CHRS will also be signing up volunteers to help staff its annual Capitol Hill House & Garden Tour in May 2027. In particular, CHRS is looking to recruit homes to feature on the 2027 tour. If you have an historic – or even not-so historic home that has an interesting history, a beautiful renovation, a lovely garden or a special art collection – CHRS would love to hear from you.
Formed in 1955, CHRS is a volunteer-run civic organization dedicated to protecting one of the oldest and most architecturally vibrant communities in D.C.
Our November Preservation Cafe provided an up-close — and inside! — look at the newly restored 1891 pipe organ at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Attendees were invited to climb the narrow, twisting staircase to the organ loft to see reinstallation work in progress and examine the beautiful wooden exterior case, inner workings and towering pipes along with the manuals (also known as keyboards) and pedalboard.
