A historical marker declares this site once was home to W.D. Crooks and Sons, which crafted high-quality wood veneer doors for the White House, U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Pentagon, National Art Gallery, and other public buildings from 1886 to 1971.
Access to the area's plentiful hardwood resources and to skilled craftsmen, including those trained in nearby vocational shops, contributed to the company's success.
Elizabeth Crooks Bush, daughter of one of the operators of the renowned door company, also was the wife of Alvin C. Bush, for whom the center is named.