SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                      
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                                      
                                      
                                   FORM 8-K
                                      
                                CURRENT REPORT
                                      
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)           MAY 17, 1996
                                                --------------------------------

                   WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
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            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     District of Columbia                 1-6622                53-0261100 
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(State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission File    (IRS Employer
 incorporation                        Number              Identification Number)


    10400 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, Maryland                20895
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    (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code (301)929-5900
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

     On May 17, 1996 WRIT Limited Partnership, a majority owned subsidiary of
WRIT, purchased Maryland Trade Center I and II, office buildings containing
349,813 rentable square feet located in Greenbelt, Maryland from the State of
California Public Employees' Retirement System, for a purchase price of
$28,000,000.  The purchase price was paid out of an advance from WRIT's
unsecured line of credit with Crestar Bank and its' participant, Signet
Bank/Virginia.  On date of acquisition, the center was 98.5% leased.  Major
tenants include NationsBank, OAO, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Lockheed Martin
Corporation, TRW and various law and accounting firms.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

       (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired
 
            The acquisition, when aggregated with a previously reported
            acquisition completed on March 13, 1996, constitutes the 
            acquisition of a "significant amount of assets" as defined in 
            regulation S-X. It is impracticable for WRIT to provide the 
            required financial statements for the substantial majority of the 
            assets acquired at the time this report is being filed.  The 
            required financial statements will be filed promptly, and in any
            event within 60 days after the required filing date of this report.

       (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information

            It is impracticable for WRIT to provide the required pro forma
            financial information at the time this report is being filed.  The 
            required pro forma financial information will be filed promptly, 
            and in any event within 60 days after the required filing date of 
            this report.

       (c)  Exhibits
 
            Credit agreement dated July 27, 1995 among Washington Real Estate
            Investment Trust as borrower, Crestar Bank, as Lender, Signet 
            Bank/Virginia, as Lender, and Crestar Bank as Agent.
                                  SIGNATURES



       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                  WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
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                                              (Registrant)



                                  By: /s/ Laura M. Franklin      
                                      -----------------------------------
                                            (Signature)          

                                                                 
                                      Laura M. Franklin          
                                      Vice President &           
                                      Chief Accounting Officer   



      May 31, 1996
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         (Date)