Hyattsville’s founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt, bought his first piece of real estate at the mature age of eight. His father, Christopher Hyatt, sold him a large tract of land in 1807.

The Deed states:

1. Christopher Hyatt for and in consideration of the love and esteem he bears for Christopher Clarke Hyatt and also the consideration of five shillings … doth hereby sell … a Certain tract and parcel of land lying and being in Prince George’s County..

The younger Hyatt went on to found Hyattsville in 1845 when he purchased more land near the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, Washington and Baltimore Turnpike, and shipping ports on the Anacostia River. By 1859 the area was known as Hyattsville by the US Post Office and cartographers. The Act of Incorporation for the city was signed in 1886.

This city, darling of blogs and magazines for its resurgence as a revitalizing destination, embraces “Since 1886” as a call sign for its history-conscious identity. And like Coca Cola, another great American institution born 1886, Hyattsville remains the “Real Thing” amongst DC area neighborhoods. A town everyone is welcome to call home: no matter who, or what they are; where civic engagement breeds like bunnies.

Upon the occasion of the 40th anniversary of our House Tour, as Hyattsville Preservation Association celebrates the rich diversity of housing and neighborhoods we work to sustain, we reflect that it took generational intent, grit and coordinated efforts over decades of partnerships to emerge once again as a destination community. To think, in 1979 there was no designated Historic District; WMATA was just rolling out its first phase of Metrorail system and the City would not see Green Line stations open until 1993. The state of our historic housing stock and commercial health was, to be charitable, challenged.

Downtown was plagued by disinvestment, a flagging Route 1 business district characterized by its automotive orientation. It spoke of a certain impermanence and lack of rootedness to commercial life in the City. The profusion of boarding houses in converted Victorians also reflected a similar phenomenon as the economic forces of the region were fueled by exurban flight.

In 1982, thanks to preservation-minded residents, ~ 600 buildings were listed as a district on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2004, under the Hyattsville CDC the district was extended to approximately 1,000 structures, including commercial ones along the Route 1 corridor.

Revitalization took a few turns between the start of the original historic district until its expansion enfolded Route 1. But a groundswell of private investment in the rehabilitation of homes and structures in the historic district provided firm foundation for later periods of economic development to arrive.

In 1984 a fabulous dinner/theater at the Hyattsville Armory emerged ahead of its time, and closed after just three years: a false start on the road to the future Arts District. In 1990, a time capsule was buried at the newly sited City Hall. 1992 saw the advent of Franklin’s General Store, whose success as an eclectic source of retail and gift items; and as community gathering spot that centered on a soda fountain and grill presaged and paved the way for expansion as a brewpub and restaurant.

It was the brewpub venue that went on to provide the necessary market confidence in this community that led to the Arts District Hyattsville in-fill revitalization and the preservation of the Lustine Showroom. Further manifestations of the Gateway Arts District along Route 1 enabled redevelopment of the Arcade; and set the stage for accelerating reinvestment, as well as the formation of a spate of craft-based, locally-owned businesses.