Once named Uniontown, the Anacostia Historic District boasts a long history: American Indians once used its banks for farming and fishing, Navy Yard employees first dominated its early 20th-century suburb, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass owned a house within its borders.

That history is now outlined in a 28-page brochure printed by the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office. Focusing on a small area that roughly stretches from the Anacostia River to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the brochure includes pictures of the area from the late 19th century and early 20th century and a story of one black family that has lived in the area for four generations.

Kim Williams, National Register coordinator for the preservation office, wrote the brochure, which partly was paid for through a matching grant from the National Park Service. For a free copy, call 202-442-8800 or send an e-mail to Johanna.Hernandez@ dc.gov. Community organizations can get up to 250 copies of the brochure by contacting Operations and Grants Manager Bruce Yarnell at 202-442-8835 or e-mail at historic.preservation@dc.gov.

— Emily Yehle