Journalist, poet, short story writer and satirist, Ambrose Bierce lived in DC from 1899 through 1913, renting at four different addresses. While in Washington, Bierce completed his Devil’s Dictionary (1911) and his word usage compendium Write it Right (1909).
Bierce served in the Union army during the Civil War, then began his career as a journalist. He is perhaps best remembered for his short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” He published twelve books during his lifetime, a combination of essays, fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. In October 1913, he left DC for a tour of his old Civil War battlefields, then traveled to Mexico to observe Pancho Villa‘s army during the Mexican Revolution. He was never heard from or seen again.
In The Devil’s Dictionary, he defined a “Washingtonian” as “A Potomac tribesman who exchanged the privilege of governing himself for the advantage of good government. In justice to him it should be said that he did not want to.”
The Homes
1368 Euclid St. NW, Washington, DC (The Olympia Apartments)
The Olympia Apartments are part of DC’s first apartment corridor, built near the 14th Street streetcar line. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
18 Logan Circle NW, Washington, DC
1825 19th St. NW, Washington, DC
1321 Fairmont St. NW, Washington, DC (El Dorado Apartments)
Ambrose Bierce
1368 Euclid St. NW
Located in Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek
Ambrose Bierce
18 Logan Circle NW
Located in Shaw/Logan Circle neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek
Ambrose Bierce
1825 19th St. NW
Located in Dupont Circle neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek
Ambrose Bierce
1321 Fairmont St. NW
Located in Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Northwest - East of Rock Creek