Thomas Circle Today

Thomas Circle today

Thomas Circle is a key feature of the Logan Circle Historic District and is located at a major city hub where 14th Street, Vermont Avenue, M Street and Massachusetts Avenue converge.

As the demand from vehicular traffic grew, major traffic congestion became a serious problem. In the early 1950s, the District altered the geometrics of the Circle in an effort to ease traffic gridlock. A grade separation was constructed to permit Massachusetts Avenue to pass under the Circle and 14th Street cut through the Circle in the north-south direction creating two crescent shaped parcels that were no longer accessible to pedestrians, while preserving the core of the center of the circle, but making it completely inaccessible.

This is much different from Dupont Circle, which has been nominated as a "Great Place" by the Project for Public Spaces. Dupont Circle is the heart of the neighborhood and a great gathering place utilized by residents and visitors alike.