Dupont Circle is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the nation's capital. The trendy community's small cafes, specialty bookstores,  antique shops, museums, and art galleries make it a favorite spot.

With its growing popularity so too has grown the tendency for surrounding neighborhoods to claim they are part of this chic enclave. Perhaps in the vague hopes of riding Dupont's  cosmopolitan coattails, some have even begun to refer to the area far beyond the neighborhood's eastern boundary as "Dupont East."

True Dupont Circle, however,  is generally considered to be the area bounded by 16th Street to the east; 22nd Street the west, Florida Avenue to the north, and M street to the south. (The area just beyond Dupont's southwestern boundary is known as the "West End.")

Architecturally, Dupont is known for its grand Victorian brownstones and row houses. A diverse mix of rental buildings, condominiums, cooperatives, row houses, single-family homes, and high rises can all be found in the area.

Dupont Circle is densely populated. Not surprisingly, parking is at a premium, and a single space can easily sell for $50,000.

Although most people correctly assume that Dupont Circle is named after the famous chemical and industrial du Pont family, few know which member of the family the circle honors: Samuel Francis du Pont.

Samuel was born in 1803. He became involved in military affairs at the young age of 12, when he was appointed to the U.S. Navy by President Madison. His military career came to a crashing halt when he was blamed for the failed attack on a Confederate  port during the Civil War. Later, when it became apparent that he had advised against the attack, his name was cleared.

To honor him and help set the record straight, the du Pont family erected a statue of Samuel in 1884 in what was then known as Pacific Circle.

Today, the statue is nowhere to be found in the Circle. That's because the du Pont family had the statue relocated to Wilmington, Del. Following its relocation, the du Pont family commissioned Daniel Chester French to design the fountain that now stands where the statue of Samuel once stood.

A popular misconception about the fountain is that the three women depicted on it represent the three fates from Greek mythology. The women actually represent the three arts of ocean navigation: the sea, the stars and the wind.