Murder Bay

Murder Bay is a historic neighborhood in central Washington, D.C., located immediately south of Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the White House. It became notorious in the late 19th century for high crime rates and vice.

Interest today is primarily historical rather than architectural - the area’s story appears in walking tours and historical studies of Washington, often within about 1 km of the White House and the National Mall. There are few surviving 19th-century structures, so interpretation relies on period maps, photographs, and written accounts.

In the late 1800s Murder Bay comprised boarding houses, saloons and brothels and was known as one of the city’s rougher districts. The neighborhood was progressively cleared during early 20th-century urban redevelopment associated with plans for the National Mall and nearby federal construction.

Geographically it sits in central D.C., roughly between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mall, within easy walking distance of Lafayette Square, the White House and several federal buildings.

• Proximity: Falls within about 1 km of the White House and the National Mall, making it easy to include on a central Washington, D.C. walking route.
• Interpretation: Interpretive materials and guided walking tours of late 19th-century Washington commonly cover the area's history, since few original buildings survive.