Long before D.C.’s nightlife went polished, the Chesapeake House kept it gloriously gritty. Located on 9th Street NW, this legendary gay go-go bar served as a cornerstone of the city’s queer scene from the 1960s into the early 1990s. Known for its dim lights, cheap drinks, and unapologetically wild energy, it was a place where drag queens, sailors, and hustlers all shared the same cramped dance floor.
