Historic Mount Pleasant was incorporated in 1985 to support and strengthen local and national historic preservation laws and, more specifically, to take the steps necessary to achieve the designation of Mount Pleasant as a historic district under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.  Mount Pleasant was designated a historic district under federal and D.C. law in 1987.  You may view our approved application at the Mount Pleasant Library.

Since that time, we have worked within the neighborhood and with District agencies to identify architectural elements worthy of protection and to preserve those elements.  In 1991, we published Guidelines for Building Permits in the Mount Pleasant Historic District, a practical guide intended to assist homeowners understand the permit process and the design elements that would be important in gaining approval by D.C. agencies.  The Guidelines were recently updated andremain the most complete description of issues relevant to exterior renovations of Mount Pleasant homes.  We urge neighbors contemplating renovations to become familiar with the Guidelines and to share their plans at an early stage with our Design Review Committee.

In addition to our ongoing design review work, we offer occasional programs (such as workshops on window repair and Heritage and Call Box Trail walks) and have for many years hosted an annual yard sale in June, the proceeds from which fund our other activities.  We are in the process of developing a new grants program for specific neighborhood projects.  (Previously, we maintained a revolving fund for porch renovations.)  We also arrange regular potluck dinners (a good way to meet neighbors and get ideas for your own homes while discussing neighborhood issues) and an annual holiday party, ordinarily at a private home.  We have a general membership meeting each February, at which the Board of Directors is elected and design awards may be given for outstanding residential or commercial renovations undertaken during the prior year.

We are a membership organization and invite others interested in historic preservation, particularly those new to Mount Pleasant, to join with us, learn about the current challenges to sustaining the unique and valuable features of our neighborhood, and help us protect and preserve them for future generations.  Please volunteer for one of our committees (Community Outreach, Design Review, Membership, Potlucks, and Yard Sale) and help us expand our activities.  Questions and suggestions are always welcome.