Northwest Quadrant: Northwest (also written as NW or N.W.) is the northwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C. and is located north of the National Mall and west of North Capitol Street. It is the largest of the four quadrants of the city (NW, NE, SW and SE), and it includes such neighborhoods as Burleith, Petworth, Dupont Circle, LeDroit Park, Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Embassy Row, Glover Park, Tenleytown, Foggy Bottom, Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, the Palisades, Shepherd Park, Crestwood, Bloomingdale, and Friendship Heights.
The Central Business District, East End, West End, Noma, and the Federal Triangle, are all in Northwest, as are the museums along the northern side of the National Mall. Northwest contains many college campuses, including American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia. The Verizon Center, home of the Washington Wizards, the Washington Capitals, and the Georgetown Hoyas as well as the venue for many concerts and other events, is located in Northwest, as are the National Cathedral, the White House, and Rock Creek Park. Northwest is made up of parts of Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, with Wards 1 and 3 being the only wards located entirely within the quadrant. Northwest is the only quadrant accessible via all lines of the Washington Metro
Southwest Quadrant: Southwest (SW or S.W.) is the southwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C. and is located south of the National Mall and west of South Capitol Street. It is the smallest quadrant of the city. Southwest is small enough that it is frequently referred to as a neighborhood in and of itself. However, it actually contains about three separate neighborhoods. Attractions within walking distance include the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, national monuments, the waterfront promenade with its fine restaurants, marina, cruise lines and famous fish market, the Arena Stage theater, several schools and churches, fitness centers, and a public library with free Wi-Fi internet access. The Washington Nationals baseball Stadium, as well as many affordable new residential buildings have been completed since 2005. Southwest is accessible via the Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green, lines of the Washington Metro. Stations servicing the quadrant include the Smithsonian, L'Enfant Plaza, and Federal Center SW stations on the Orange and Blue Lines, as well as Waterfront-SEU on the Green Line and L'Enfant Plaza on the Green and Yellow Lines. (L'Enfant Plaza is the transfer point between the Orange, Blue, Green, and Yellow Line trains.)
Northeast Quadrant: Northeast (NE or N.E.) is the northeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C. and is located north of East Capitol Street and east of North Capitol Street. Northeast neighborhoods include much of Capitol Hill, Brentwood, Brookland, Ivy City, Marshall Heights, Pleasant Hill, Stanton Park, Trinidad, Michigan Park, Riggs Park, Fort Totten, Fort Lincoln, Edgewood, and Woodridge. Northeast is home to Catholic institutions, mostly in the Brookland neighborhood, including The Catholic University of America, St. Anselm's Abbey School, Trinity University, the Franciscan Monastery, Whitefriars Hall, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, and the headquarters of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Two large public gardens are located below the waistline of the Anacostia River in Northeast: the United States National Arboretum and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Other important sites in the quadrant include the ruins of several Civil War-era forts and Gallaudet University.
Politically, Northeast includes most of Ward 5, much of Wards 6 and 7, and parts of Ward 4, and is accessible via the Orange, Red, Yellow, and Green Lines of the Washington Metro. Union Station is served by the MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail systems, as well as by Amtrak.
Southeast Quadrant: Southeast (SE or S.E.) is the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C. and is located south of East Capitol Street and east of South Capitol Street. It has a rich cultural history, including the historic Capitol Hill and Anacostia neighborhoods, the Navy Yard, the Anacostia River waterfront, the long-running open-air Eastern Market, the remains of several Civil War-era forts, historic St. Elizabeth's Hospital, RFK Stadium, Nationals Park, and the Congressional Cemetery. The quadrant is bisected by the Anacostia River, with the northwestern half sometimes referred to as "Near Southeast".There exist certain neighborhoods, such as Hillcrest, Penn Branch, and Fort Dupont.
Cultural events/activities include the annual Martin Luther King Birthday parade, the free weekly summer jazz concerts in Fort Dupont Park, the Fort Dupont year ice-rink, the Anacostia Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and the tennis and learning center for youth on Mississippi Avenue. Politically, Southeast includes most of Ward 8, as well as much of Wards 6 and 7.
Southeast Washington is accessible via the Blue, Orange and Green Lines of the Washington Metro.
