The station was opened on July 1, 1977,[2] and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

The station serves a dense residential area of Southeast Washington around Potomac Avenue and is located at 14th and G Streets.

The station's opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[3] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Smithsonian, and Stadium–Armory stations.

[6] On February 1, 2023, 64-year-old transit worker Robert Cunningham was killed and three others were injured in an incident involving a gunman.

He had been charged with several drug-related crimes in Pennsylvania in April 2022 and was awaiting sentencing after a plea deal.