Capitol Hill Alphabet Animal Art Project
The Capitol Hill Alphabet Animal Art Project is an art installation pairing animal sculptures with lettered streets in Southeast
The Capitol Hill Alphabet Animal Art Project (CHAAAP) is exactly what it sounds like. Artists created animal sculptures to correspond to different letters of the alphabet, and these were installed on lettered streets in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. A Capitol Hill resident came up with the idea when he was walking around with his daughters and using the lettered street signs to teach them the alphabet. The end result is a group of fun, whimsical animal sculptures scattered throughout the neighborhood that will delight both children and adults.
CHAAAP was made possible through a partnership between the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT). CHAW has been around since the 1970s, and uses art to build community. Since the animal sculptures were attached to the same poles as street signs, they could not create a hazard or obstruct normal operations. DDOT identified locations that would work for the art installation, and artists were limited to sculptures that weighed no more than seven pounds.
The sculptures can be found at the following locations:
- Dog at D St SE and 3rd St SE
- Emu at E St SE and 5th St SE
- Falcarius Chasing a Capitalsaurus at F St SE and 1st St SE
- Grasshopper at G St SE and 7th St SE
- Ibis at I St SE and 2nd St SE
- Ladybug at L St SE and 2nd St SE
- Narwhal pod at North Carolina Ave SE and 2nd St SE
- Spider at South Carolina Ave SE and 7th St SE
Adventurers can refer to the map at the bottom of the post for the most efficient walking route to see them all.
Ten sculptures were originally included in the Capitol Hill Alphabet Animal Art Project, but only eight remain. A koala on K Street SE and some Viceroy butterflies on Virginia Avenue SE are no longer there. However, CHAW has plans to expand this art project with ten more animal sculptures in the Eastern Market neighborhood. They were planning to debut them this month, but it is likely delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home order for DC.
The grasshopper on G Street has been dubbed CHAWmper as a nod to its location across the street from CHAW’s building. The ibis on I Street was created using license plates from DC and states that have streets in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The ladybug on L Street was created using recycled materials. CHAW is planning to install QR codes near each sculpture so you can learn more about the artists and the animals they created.
The Capitol Hill Alphabet Animal Art Project is a great way to get outside and explore the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Each animal sculpture feels like a little hidden treasure that you might only notice if you were looking for it. I definitely recommend taking a walk on a nice day to check them out.
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Address
The animal sculptures can be found throughout the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Southeast.
Metro Station
- Eastern Market (OR, BL, SV)
- Navy Yard-Ballpark (GR)
Directions
Use the map above to walk from the Eastern Market metro station to the Navy Yard metro station, or vice versa. The total route is about two miles.
Cost
Free
Hours
Open 24 hours but best in the daylight
Length of Adventure
1-2 hours
Website
https://www.chaw.org/capitol-hill-alphabet-animal-art-project
