historic house tours washington dc

9 Historic House Museums in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is home to an array of historic house museums that showcase the life and contributions of some of the nation's most iconic figures. Visitors can step inside the property that was once home to notable leaders like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Clara Barton. These museums are special places to visit and generally less crowded than the larger attractions on the National Mall . When you visit the nation's capital, tour a variety of historic estates and learn about the early Americans who shaped our democracy.

Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Mount Vernon Ladies Association

The 500-acre estate of George Washington and his family includes a 21-room mansion that is beautifully restored and furnished with original objects dating back to the 1740's. Visitors can tour the mansion as well as the outbuildings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, smokehouse, coach house, and stables. The historic site is located along the shores of the  Potomac River  and is the most scenic tourist attraction in the Washington, DC area. The estate includes the Ford Orientation Center & Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, which tells the story of Washington's life through state-of-the-art exhibits. Additional amenities on the property include a food court, gift shop and bookstore and the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.

President Lincoln's Cottage

Dennis K. Johnson/Getty Images

Abraham Lincoln lived in the Cottage at the Soldiers' Home from June-November of 1862, 1863 and 1864. He was living here when he drafted the preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation and deliberated critical issues of the Civil War. Lincoln used the cottage as a quiet retreat from the White House and crafted important speeches, letters, and policies from this site. The cottage was restored and opened to the public in 2008. Visitors get to see an intimate view of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and family life. A free one-hour guided tour of the cottage   is offered daily. The visitor center features exhibits and displays Lincoln-related artifacts.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Frederick Douglass Historic Site

Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, and advisor to Lincoln, bought this house that he called "Cedar Hill" in SE Washington, D.C. in 1877. The year that it was built is unknown. The National Historic Site was restored and reopened in 2007. The home and the grounds area open to the public. Reservations are required. Each February, the museum hosts a birthday celebration for Douglass featuring an array of programs and activities dedicated to increasing the public’s knowledge of his life.

Old Stone House

AgnosticPreachersKid/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

Located in the heart of Georgetown, the oldest known private home in Washington, D.C. was built in 1766 and today is preserved to demonstrate everyday life for the average citizen during the 19th century. The historic house is maintained by the National Park Service and is open to the public. With its location at 30th and M Streets, it is easy to stop for a visit while shopping or sightseeing in this popular part of the city. 

Dumbarton House

dbking/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0

The historic house in Georgetown was originally the home to Joseph Nourse, first Register of the U.S. Treasury. Today it is owned by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and serves as a museum displaying an outstanding collection of Federal period (1789-1825) furniture, paintings, textiles, silver, and ceramics. The museum hosts a year-round calendar of public events, lectures, concerts, balls, exhibitions, family activities, summer camps, and rental events. Guided tours are available by appointment. 

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden

Tudor Place

The federal era mansion was built by Martha Washington's granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis Peter and was the home to six generations of the Peter family. The 5-acre estate is one of Washington, D.C.'s hidden gems located in Georgetown's Historic District. The Tudor Place collection includes more than 15,000 objects from the period 1750-1983, including silver, ceramics, jewelry, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photographs, manuscripts, and furniture. The early 19th-century style garden features a Bowling Green, Tennis Lawn, Flower Knot, Boxwood Ellipse, Japanese Tea House and Tulip Poplar. The historic home is open to the public and offers house tours, garden tours, and special events.

Clara Barton National Historic Site

Library of Congress

Located adjacent to  Glen Echo Park , the Clara Barton National Historic Site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The historic home served as the headquarters and warehouse for the American Red Cross where she coordinated relief efforts for victims of natural disasters and war from 1897-1904. The house is shown by guided tour only.

Hillwood Museum & Gardens

Maxwell MacKenzie

The former estate of art collector and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post, the heir to the Post cereal fortune is located near  Rock Creek Park  in NW Washington, D.C. The historic property showcases an impressive collection of 18th- and 19th-century Russian imperial art. Post was a passionate art collector who assembled a superb collection of Russian art including paintings, furniture, Fabergé eggs, jewelry, glass, and textiles. The 25 acres of gardens include a circular rose garden; a formal French parterre, a large crescent-shaped lunar lawn; a traditional Japanese-style garden and waterfall and a greenhouse for orchids. Hillwood offers a variety of programs throughout the year including lectures, garden walks, workshops, and musical and theatrical performances. 

Woodrow Wilson House

Rachel Cooper

Washington's only presidential museum was the final home of our 28th President. Furnished as it was in Wilson's time, the 1915 Georgian Revival home near Dupont Circle is a living textbook of modern American life in the 1920s. Wilson led the nation through World War I, won the Nobel Peace Prize and created the League of Nations. The Woodrow Wilson House is situated in the Kalorama – Embassy Row area that has long featured stately mansions and townhomes. The property includes many remarkable features, including a marble entryway and grand staircase, Palladian window, book-lined study, dumb waiter and butler’s pantry, and solarium overlooking the formal garden.

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Ways to visit Wilson House Museum

Tours fall into three categories: General house tours, Specialty house tours, and self-guided neighborhood walking tours.  Tours of the interior of the Woodrow Wilson House Museum can be visited only as part of a guided tour. We do not allow self-guided tours in the historic house, only in the exhibition space.

All guided house tours begin at the entrance of the museum where an orientation provides some background information on the house and the people who lived here. For a deeper understanding of the site, opt for a private guided tour and a walking tour of the Kalorama neighborhood. All self-guided neighborhood walking tours begin and end at the museum.

The Wilson House Museum also offers private group tours, school groups, and Girl Scout activities.

In addition to our tours, our exhibition gallery is available for current, temporary exhibits. A guide is not necessary to visit the exhibition space, which is open during regular business hours.

All tours inside the museum are GUIDED and you must reserve a tour in advance. Face coverings are optional while inside the museum.

Guided House Tour

Guided One-Hour Tour

The Woodrow Wilson House is a national historic landmark and house museum. Learn about the 28th president and his consequential presidency. Explore the house, a time-capsule from 1924 through a one-hour guided tour.

Highlights Tour - 30 Minute Express Tour

Only have 30 minutes but still want to see Washington DC’s Hidden Gem? Come see the highlights: the iconic Library, the President’s private quarters and a “state of the art” historic kitchen.

Guided Specialty Tours

Under One Roof: Living & Working in The Wilson House

75 Minutes: Explore the lives of the employees who lived and worked “Under One Roof” with Woodrow and Edith Wilson — from Wilson’s private secretary, chauffeur, and male nurse to the couple’s personal servants, Isaac and Mary Scott. Learn about the duties of cooks, butlers, and laundresses while touring the “backstairs” parts of the house that raise important issues of race, class, and wealth in 1920s America.

Architecture Tour, Behind the Scenes

75 Minutes: Learn about the Georgian Revival architecture and inner workings of this Embassy Row historic house and grounds.

The Struggle for Liberration: Three Generations of Wilson Women

75 Minutes: The three generations of women who influenced Woodrow Wilson have much to teach us about the lives of American women from the 1840s to the 1960s. Meet the Civil War generation of Wilson’s mother who lived by the precepts of the Old South, despite living many years after the war. Meet the Gilded Age and Progressive Era generation of Wilson’s wives and friends whose paths and choices led them in very different directions. And meet the generation of Wilson’s daughters, who had excellent educations and fully embraced the freedoms of the New Woman, but whose lives took unexpected turns. Finally, meet Mary Scott, a long-time servant whose life was shaped by racism, but who, despite being somewhat older than the daughters, outlived them all and finally saw the Voting Rights Act which was a direct response to the barriers that prevented African Americans from voting for nearly a century.

Presidential Porcelain: A History of Ceramics Through the Wilsons’ Collection

70 Minutes: The Wilsons are often recognized for their Official White House China selection and creation of the White House China Room, but what pieces did they have in their personal collection? From family heirlooms to wedding gifts, this in-depth guided tour through the dining room, butler’s pantry, and kitchen focuses on key selections from the Woodrow Wilson House ceramics collection of 19th-20th century American, European, and Asian works. Examples will include dinnerware, tea and coffee sets, and decorative items featuring various techniques and styles, and pieces that correspond to different parts of the Wilsons’ lives.

Prohibition Tour + Wine Cellar

75 Minutes: Do you have the moxie to learn about abstinence and teetotalers, juice joints and flappers? What a time in America’s History! Come see a Vintage Wine cellar and learn about the origins of the cocktail party, the speakeasy – and the definition of a blind pig!

Executive Director's Tour

75 Minutes: See the Museum through the eyes of the Executive Director. Every artifact sparks a narrative that reveals something about the changing world of the early 20th century – revolution and progress, missed opportunities and failures, inviting comparison to our own times. Hear stories about the Wilsons, their lives, and why this House is a place that matters.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour

75 Minutes: See the Museum through the eyes of those who maintain the site. Join us for an insider’s look at the historic house with this behind-the-scenes tour. Learn how the staff cleans and performs inventory with the site's 8,400 artifacts. You’ll hear important details about how the Collections Team cares for historic furniture, unique objects and artwork, and how we run this historic site. Tour is given by Wilson's House Senior Manage of Business and Operations.

Walking Tours

Looking for outdoor activities you can do on your own schedule? Try one of our Walking Tours. Download a map and explore a beautiful neighborhood in Northwest DC.

Waddy Butler Wood Walking Tour

As you explore the beautiful Kalorama neighborhood, learn about the history and residents of thirteen houses designed by the famous architect of the Woodrow Wilson House, Waddy Butler Wood.

Dupont Circle

A tour focusing on the arts and culture of the neighborhood with stops at the Gandi Memorial and the Cosmos Club.

Kalorama Neighborhood

A tour focusing on the religion and education in the neighborhood, stopping at the Friends Meeting House and the Holton Arms School.

Observatory Circle

A tour of the prestigious parts of the neighborhood with stops of the British Embassy and the United states Naval observatory, home of the Vice President.

Sheridan Circle

A tour leading to the Civil war statue of General Sheridan, with information focusing on Woodrow Wilson's connection to the Civil War.

Getting Here

Woodrow Wilson House is located at 2340 S Street in a quiet residential neighborhood of Northwest DC, close to Metro and Metrobus.  The Kalorama Neighborhood is also home to The Phillips Collection, Anderson House, and numerous embassies and Ambassadorial residences.  Scroll down to find maps and directions.

METRO:  Dupont Circle (Red Line) is the nearest Metro Stop.

BUSES:   The N2, N4, and N6 Metro buses stop at 24th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., one block from Woodrow Wilson House.

PARKING:  Parking is available on the street, subject to parking restrictions (generally, “two-hour parking” applies).

TRANSPORTATION PARTNER:   GOGO Charters provides private charter bus, minibus and shuttle rentals to the Wilson House Museum. Book a DC bus rental for corporate events, school groups and private gatherings at the museum. Plan your trip as soon as today.

Discover President Woodrow Wilson's legacy with group tours at the Wilson House Museum. Book your tour and write us for any inquiries at [email protected] .

Your ticket for the: Tours

WASHINGTON D.C. SITES

Admission Charged

Handicapped Accesible

Group or Coach tour available upon request

Rentals available

Food Service

Old Stone House

3051 M Street NW Washington, DC 20008 (202) 895-6000

https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/historyculture/old-stone-house-history.htm

The Old Stone House is the oldest house on its original foundation in the District of Columbia. The structure was used as both business and residence for over 200 years. Its existence is due to a case of mistaken identity--the building was mistaken for a tavern frequented by George Washington.

Peirce Mill

2401 Tilden Street NW Washington, DC 20008 (202) 895-6000

https://www.nps.gov/places/peirce-mill.htm

www.friendsofpeircemill.org

Two hundred years ago, Isaac Peirce began building a grist mill along Rock Creek. Today, Peirce Mill is the only working mill in Washington. The site is operated by the National Park Service, in partnership with the Friends of Peirce Mill.

As Peirce Mill enters its third century, the site offers a variety of free public programs, including mill tours, a summer square dance, a fall festival, hands-on children’s activities, and school field trips.

Admission is free, and the mill and barn are open from 10:00 to 4:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April through October. Milling demonstrations are offered  from April through October on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, between 11:00 and 2:00. From November through February, the mill is open from noon to 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. In March, the mill is open on weekends from 10:00 to 4:00.

President Lincoln’s Cottage at Soldiers’ Home

$ P HA SH GT R

Upshur Street at Rock Creek Church Road, NW Washington, DC 20011 202-829-0436 www.lincolncottage.org

For over a quarter of his Presidency, Abraham Lincoln lived on a picturesque hilltop in Northwest Washington, D.C., while making some of his most critical decisions. While in residence at the Cottage, Lincoln visited with wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated men, women and children, and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. The human cost of the Civil War surrounded him, undoubtedly impacted his thinking, and strengthened his resolve to challenge the status quo. Through innovative guided tours, exhibits and programs, we use Lincoln’s example to inspire visitors to take their own path to greatness, and preserve this place as an authentic, tangible connection to the past and a beacon of hope for all who take up Lincoln’s unfinished work.

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

1644 31st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 (202) 965-0400 www.tudorplace.org

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden preserves the stories of six generations of descendants of Martha Washington, and the enslaved and free people who lived and worked at this Georgetown landmark for nearly two centuries. By examining their legacy, we challenge ourselves and our visitors to celebrate the triumphs and to confront the complexities of the past.  A model of Federal-period architecture in the nation’s capital, Tudor Place sits on 5 ½ acres in the heart of Georgetown and houses over 18,000 decorative objects, including the largest Washington Collection outside of Mount Vernon.

The White House

HA SH 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20502 (202) 456-7041

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/

Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one’s Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

Anderson House – The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati

2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

(202) 785-2040

http://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/visit/tours

Explore the Society of the Cincinnati’s historic headquarters, Anderson House, a National Historic Landmark in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.  Since 1938, the Society has made its headquarters at Anderson House, where it has worked to advance its mission to honor the men and women who won American independence in the Revolutionary War.  Tours of the mansion reveal the history of the Society of the Cincinnati, the significance of the American Revolution, and the lives and collections of the home’s first owners, Larz and Isabel Anderson.  The mansion was completed in 1905 for the Andersons, a wealthy couple who devoted their lives to public service, travel, entertaining, collecting, and philanthropy—interests and activities that are reflected in Anderson House, where much of the couple’s art collection and furnishings are still on display.  Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4 p.m and Sundays, 1 – 4 p.m.  Guided tours begin at 15 minutes past each hour.  Anderson House also offers a changing exhibition gallery, a research library, and an active calendar of public programs.

The David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at Decatur House

Join us for tours of Decatur House, home of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History. Explore the house that was designed for naval war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr. by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, its nearly 200-year-old history, its connections to the War of 1812, and its Slave Quarters, one of only a few remaining examples of slave quarters in an urban setting. Decatur House is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and operated by the White House Historical Association. Guided tours ours are offered Mondays at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.  Closed Federal Holidays.

1610 H Street NW Washington DC 20006 (202) 737-8292 http://www.whitehousehistory.org

 Belmont-Paul Women's Equality NM

144 Constitution Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 546-1210

https://www.nps.gov/bepa/index.htm

Steps from the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court, the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, completed in 1799, is the headquarters of the historic National Woman’s Party and one of the premier women’s history sites in the nation. With more than 150 years of archives and artifacts from the suffrage and equal rights movement, this National Historic Landmark celebrates women’s long quest for citizenship and equality.

The Octagon

When the British burned the White House, President and Mrs. Madison moved into one of the most beautiful homes in Washington, D.C. A short block from the White House stands the Octagon, a National Historic treasure. One of the first great homes built in the new nation’s capital, the Octagon is a landmark of America’s architectural, political, and cultural history. Completed in 1801 for the eminent Tayloe family and designed by William Thornton, the original architect of the U.S. Capitol, the Octagon is one of the most significant and elegant buildings to remain standing from the early federal city. It was in the upstairs parlor that President Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815 establishing peace with Great Britain. In 1899, The American Institute of Architects chose the severely deteriorated building as its new national headquarters, initiating a series of state-of-the-art restorations. After over two centuries of use, adaptation, renovation, and restoration, the Octagon continues to serve as a reminder of the great beauty of early American design and the lasting value of architectural excellence. The Octagon is open Thursday through Saturday from 1:00 – 4:00 pm for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available with advanced reservations for $10/person. To arrange a guided tour, contact us at 202-626-7439 or [email protected] .

1799 New York Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20006-5207 (202) 626-7439

https://architectsfoundation.org/octagon-museum/

The Monroe House – The Arts Club of Washington

2017 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 331-7282

https://artsclubofwashington.org/

In 1811, then Secretary of State James Monroe and his wife Elizabeth came to live at 2017 I Street, NW, and tastefully furnished it with objects acquired in Paris where Monroe had served as America’s minister. In March 1817, the house would gain greater importance when James Monroe was inaugurated as the nation’s fifth chief executive. During the first six months of the new administration, the president and his wife continued to make this their home until the White House was fully restored in September of that year. The first of Monroe’s Inaugural Balls was held in the spacious second-floor parlor. Following the President’s departure, the house was home to the British Legation. In 1877, the property was purchased by Cleveland Abbe. A renowned meteorologist, Abbe oversaw the establishment of the United States Weather Bureau and served as its first director.  In 1916, Washington artists purchased the Monroe House. With a focus on painting, sculpture, music, literature, and drama, the Arts Club provided a contrast to Washington’s more traditional clubs. Uniquely, it was also the first club in the District to admit women as charter members.  Today, the Arts Club remains a part of the vibrant Washington arts environment. Monthly exhibits in three of the Club’s galleries feature art by some of the nation’s brightest talents.  A fourth gallery, the Spilsbury Gallery, showcases works by Art Club members. The Club’s stage and auditorium are the frequent venue for literary programs and musical performances.  Many of the performances are open to the public.

Hours:  The Arts Club of Washington is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday through Friday and from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, and during evening hours for scheduled events. The Arts Club is closed on Sunday, Monday and Holidays. Hours are subject to change.

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS

1318 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 673-2402

www.nps.gov/mamc

This was the first official headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), founded in 1935 by Presidential Advisor, Educator and Activist, Mary McLeod Bethune and the last Washington DC residence of Mary McLeod Bethune. It commemorates Bethune’s leadership and legacy in the black women’s rights movement from 1943 to 1949. Appropriately, the house that once served as headquarters for the NCNW contains the National Archives for Black Women’s History, the only institution in the United States solely dedicated to this purpose. The archival holdings include the personal papers of African American women, records of their organizations, and a collection of more than 4000 photographs that document African American women’s activities in the 20th century. Designated a National Historic Site by Congress in 1982 the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS became a unit of the National Park System in 1995.

The L. Ron Hubbard House Original Founding Church

1812 19th St. NW Washington, DC 20009-5501 202-234-7490 http://www.lronhubbard.org/heritage-sites/dc.html

Historically restored landmark location of the first church of Scientology where writer, explorer and founder L. Ron Hubbard worked from 1957-1960 to establish a legacy that increasingly influences human rights, religion, literature, business and education as well as fields such as drug rehabilitation, criminal reform and literacy. See his early life and the development of his work through his personal photographs and artifacts and historically restored rooms. The location is actually two homes of a six-unit row house development in the Dupont Circle National Register historic area. The homes, designed by renowned architect Waddy Wood in 1904, are representative of turn of the century inventive beaux-arts ecelectism. Free admission. You may schedule a personal tour but it is not required. Call for more information.

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

$ HA FS P SH GT R

4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 202-686-5807 www.hillwoodmuseum.org

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, the grand estate of Post Cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, sits on 25 beautiful acres overlooking Rock Creek Park in northwest Washington, D.C.  Bring friends and family to explore this fabulous gem—the art-filled Mansion, 13 acres of formal gardens, a greenhouse overflowing with orchids, and the HILLWOOD Café and Museum Shop. Free on-site parking.

Heurich House Museum

1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 429-1894 www.heurichhouse.org

The Heurich House Museum preserves the legacy of Christian Heurich and enriches the cultural life of Washington, DC. The mansion was built from 1892-4 by German immigrant, local brewer, and philanthropist Christian Heurich (1842-1945). Recognized as Washington, D.C.’s most successful brewer, he ran the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. until his death at 102.  The mansion is notable for its technological innovations, original interiors, and rich archival collection of one of the most important local families.  The museum, located in Dupont Circle, is open for regular public events and public tours Thursday through Saturday at 11:30 am, 1:00 and 2:30 pm. Private tours and event rentals are also available.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

1411 W Street, SE Washington, DC 20020 (202) 426-5961 www.nps.gov

Freed black slave and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass lived in this house from 1877 to 1895. Collections include family furnishings, documents, and personal artifacts related to Douglass’ work.

Florida House on Capitol Hill

1 Second Street, NE Washington, DC  20002 (202) 546-1555 http://www.floridahousedc.org

As the only state embassy in Washington, D.C., Florida House is proud to connect, celebrate and champion Florida to the world. Located just behind the Supreme Court, Florida House is a home away from home for Floridians and Floridians-at-heart. Open Monday through Friday, we offer a chance for guests to learn more about Florida, host dynamic events, and enjoy warm hospitality with a cold glass of orange juice.

Dumbarton House

$ P HA R GT

2715 Q Street, NW Washington, DC 20007-3071 (202) 337-2288 www.dumbartonhouse.org

Stately home of America’s first Register of the Treasury and Dolley Madison’s first stop while fleeing the British during the burning of Washington in 1814. Fine collection of Federal period decorative arts, textiles, fabrics, and furniture focused upon conveying a sense of life and values during the American Republic’s early years.

Woodley, a Federal style manor house, was built in 1801 by Philip Barton Key, the only former Loyalist to achieve national prominence and win a seat in Congress. Woodley served as the summer White House for both Martin Van Buren and Grover Cleveland because of its cooler, higher elevation within Washington.  In the 20th century, Woodley was home to a number of prominent Americans including George Patton and Henry Stimson. In 1950 it was bought and incorporated into Maret School.  Tours are offered when school is not in session.

3000 Cathedral Avenue

http://www.maret.org/about_us/history/the_woodley_society/index.aspx  

Woodrow Wilson House (National Trust)

$ HA SH R GT

2340 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 (202) 387-4062 www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org

Washington, D.C.’s only presidential museum is the home of Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) — educator, president, and world statesman — who founded the League of Nations and shaped the modern U.S. presidency. His public career and his life as a private citizen are traced in an impressive collection of White House objects, elaborate gifts of state from around the world, family items, and personal mementoes. Furnished as it was in Wilson’s time, the fashionable 1915 house just off Embassy Row is a living textbook of modern American life in the 1920s — from sound recordings to silent films, from flapper dresses to zinc sinks.

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

Tudor place offers unique and intimate settings perfect for special occasions..

A model of Federal-period architecture in the nation's capital, Tudor Place was home to six generations of Martha Washington's descendants from 1805 to 1983 and the enslaved workers and servants who lived and worked here. With over 18,000 decorative objects, including the largest Washington Collection outside of Mount Vernon, Tudor Place sits on 5 ½ acres in the heart of Georgetown. The house and garden are open for self-guided visits Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Reserve free, timed tickets online. Bring a picnic and enjoy yourself. DC and CDC health and safety guidelines are followed.

• Guided tours available
• Private Tour
• Educational Programming
• Non-Profit Organization

Additional Information

Largest capacities.

Banquet capacity: 35, Theatre capacity: 40, Reception capacity: 70

Distance to Metro

Distance to conv center, nearby landmarks.

National Cathedral

Group Maximum

Attraction rates, length of tour, min to airport, metro station.

Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom-GWU

Blue, Orange, Red

Payment Options

American Express, Cash, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

1644 31st St. NW Washington , DC 20007 United States

(202) 965-0400, [email protected].

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Upcoming Events

Dirt diggers, garden volunteering.

May 04, 2024 - Jun 01, 2024

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Historic Homes to Visit in DC

DC isn’t just home to federal buildings, incredible free museums, and memorials to our history. Our city also has an impressive collection of historic homes, many of which are open to the public.

Check out some of our favorites! 

Follow us on Instagram and watch our Reels about our visits to some of the historic homes in DC.

1.Anderson House 

American diplomat Lars Anderson and his wife, author Isabel Weld Perkins, had this Gilded Age mansion built in the early 1900s as a winter residence and a showplace for their extensive collection of fine art and artifacts.

Today, you can view the Andersons’ collection as well as a museum, library, and headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati,of which Anderson was a member.

Anderson House is a stop on our Embassy Row tours , but if you want to visit inside, you'll need to wait for them to reopen.

2. Tudor Place

This is the only historic house in DC with a direct connection to George Washington. The estate was owned by Martha Parke Custis Peter, granddaughter of Martha Washington (and step-granddaughter of George.)

Using money from her Washington inheritance, the younger Martha purchased the estate in 1805 and hired William Thornton, architect of the US Capitol Building, to complete the mansion.

The home stayed in the family until 1983, when it was turned over to a private foundation, and opened as a house museum in 1988.

Tudor Place is including on some of our Georgetown tours, but you can also visit with timed tickets as they are OPEN.

3. Hillwood Estate

Marjorie Merriweather Post was one of the most interesting women in American history - businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist, art collector, world traveler, and more.

Following her third divorce, she purchased this estate on the edge of Rock Creek Park, dubbed it Hillwood, and designed it as a palace to display her extensive collection of Russian art and religious objects.

Hillwood is OPEN you can visit now with tickets . 

4. Woodrow Wilson House 

Before the Obamas purchased their Kalorama mansion in 2017, Woodrow Wilson had been the most recent President to maintain a permanent residence in Washington, DC after their presidency.

This home was purchased as a wedding gift for his second wife, Edith Bolling Wilson, who remained in the home until her death in 1961, when the house and all its original furnishings were turned over to a national trust.

Today, it is a house museum with a wide array of public programming, including vintage board game nights!

Woodrow Wilson House is a stop on our Embassy Row Tours!  but if you want to visit inside you'll need to wait visit separately.

5. Heurich House Museum

Also known as the brewmaster’s castle, the heurich house was built in the 1890s for german immigrant and brewer christian heurich..

After he was widowed in 1895, Heurich threw himself into building a beer empire in DC and at one point, his brewery was the second largest employed in the city.

Heurich, who lived until age 102, remarried, had four children, and made this mansion the center of his social power. 

Visit the Brewmaster's Castle before taking our True Crimes of Dupont Circle/Embassy Row tour!  which starts just around the corner. 

6. Dumbarton House

Historic Georgetown is packed with historic homes but not many have the pedigree of Dumbarton House.

Built in 1800, the Federal style house was a private residence to notables like Joseph Nourse, first registrar of the treasury, and Charles Carroll, cousin to the signer of the Declaration of Independence with the same name. 

Most noteworthy, however, was a guest of Dumbarton House - First Lady Dolley Madison, who fled to the home during the burning of Washington in the War of 1812. Since 1928, the house has been the headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

Visit Dumbarton House on our self guided East Georgetown tour and then stop in to visit - it is OPEN - https://dumbartonhouse.org/

7. Old Stone House 

There are historic DC houses and then there is the Old Stone House.

The oldest structure on its original foundation in D.C., it was completed in 1766 when we were still part of the British colony of Maryland. It is also the city’s last remaining pre-Revolutionary colonial building that is still on its original foundation.

It was a residence and business location until the National Park Service acquired it in 1953.

The Old Stone House is a stop on our Georgetown tours ! 

8. Frederick Douglass House (Interior Temporarily Closed)

Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent figures of the 19th century, called this building home from 1877 until his death in 1895. Named Cedar Hill, Douglass expanded the existing structure to its current size, and used the home as his base of operations.

It was turned into a historic site at the urging of Douglass’ widow, Helen Pitts Douglass, and was turned over to the public good after her death in 1903. 

Visit Cedar Hill National Park Service Site (temporarily closed)

9. Dumbarton Oaks

Situated on land that was originally part of a grant from Queen Anne in 1702, Dumbarton Oaks is one of the largest estates in historic Georgetown.

In 1920, the property was purchased by Robert and Mildred Bliss, who increased the grounds to 54 acres and hired landscape architect Beatrix Farrand to develop a series of gardens and wild spaces on the land.

Today, it houses a museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art as well as European artwork and furnishings but the real draw are the beautiful gardens here and in the adjoining Dumbarton Oaks Park.

We talk about Dumbarton Oaks on some of our Georgetown tours, but if you want to go inside you'll need timed tickets. 

10. Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument

One of the oldest houses on Capitol Hill, the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument is most noted today for being the headquarters of the National Woman’s Party, founded in 1916 as part of the fight for women’s suffrage.

The work of the party continued after the 19th Amendment and in 1929, they moved their operations into the house, known then as the Sewall House.

It was designated a national monument by President Obama in 2016 and is now part of the National Park Service.

The building is temporarily closed. You can visit when they reopen, though!

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President Lincoln’s Cottage is a historic site and museum located on a 250 acre campus in Northwest Washington, D.C. Here Abraham Lincoln made some of his most nation-changing decisions and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. Each day, we see how the significance of what happened here more than 150 years ago ignites courageous new ideas, encourages respectful dialogue, and promotes thoughtful compromise.

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The Cottage shows the humanity and responsibility we all have to fight for justice.

This place reminded me of my responsibility as a citizen and keeper of my nation.

The exhibit changed me. I am substantively different as a result.

Especially during this time of unease and uncertainty of the future, these reflections are of the utmost importance.

I love bringing people here. Stimulates great discussion and I always learn something new.

When was the last time a museum left you with such introspection?

This is a spiritual experience like none I’ve ever had.

It’s a hidden treasure. In one of the most inspiring but trying times, I experienced an appreciation of our nation in a way that no other place in DC can do.

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Located in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C., President Lincoln’s Cottage, its galleries, and its landscape feature experiences for all ages. We are offering new onsite and virtual experiences that allow us to safely share Abraham Lincoln’s legacy in a setting that he loved. Get your tickets and join us today.

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All Tours: 58

Historic downtown and chinatown, mid-century modernism in southwest, capitol hill historic district & emerald street historic district, african american schools, u street & shaw: before and since 1968, early and industrial georgetown, the campaign against covenants in bloomingdale, african american civil rights, saint elizabeths hospital, women in history downtowndc callbox tour, riding the 70s (from silver spring to archives/l'enfant plaza), riding the s2/s9 (from piney branch to lafayette square), riding the x2 (from minnesota avenue to lafayette square), riding the 90 (from anacostia historic district to duke ellington bridge/rock creek park), riding the 50s (from takoma park historic district to metro center/federal triangle), riding the 32/36 (from southern avenue/naylor road to foggy bottom), dc firehouses, gone, but not forgotten, preserving chocolate city, latinx heritage tour, national historic landmarks: lafayette square & 16th street, national historic landmarks: sheridan-kalorama & dupont circle, national historic landmarks: african american history, national historic landmarks: capitol hill, national historic landmarks: historic downtown washington, capital city slavery, 2021 landmarks in review, district schools & universities, dc's landmark libraries, postwar modernism in washington dc, district theaters, historically designated interiors, women's suffrage in washington d.c., looking back at the joint committee on landmarks: a selection of sites, food and drink in the district, historic landmarks on the 2022 most endangered places list, d.c. apartment buildings, dcpl-sponsored landmarks and historic districts, commemorative monuments and memorials of dc, abstract sculptures of dc, 2022 landmarks in review, exploring dc's go-go and punk music scenes, dc's landmarks of transportation, riding the 96 (from capitol heights to tenleytown), finding style in dc: navigating dc’s shopping scene, sacred spaces in dc, riding the l2 (from chevy chase circle to farragut square), finding asian american history in washington, dc, mid-century neighborhoods tour, public art tour, following florida avenue: the original boundary of the city of washington, dc architects to know series: part one, dc architects to know series: part two, dc architects to know series: part three, daring geometric design: art deco in washington, d.c., historic banks and financial institutions of dc, 2023 landmarks in review, m street high school: where trailblazers thrived.

Visit D.C.’s Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Historic Homes and Gardens

History, nature and culture combine at these fascinating estates and gardens in our nation’s capital

Washington, D.C. is a hot spot for museums, with no shortage of indoor places to visit and explore. But it's summer, which means it's time to get outside. Luckily for those who enjoy a cultural fix along with their sunshine, there are plenty of interesting historic homes that include beautiful estates and gardens in our nation's capital, too.

For many of these locations, fighting crowds isn’t a problem. These houses and gardens aren’t the typical tourist haunts. And while museums have their own charms, visiting a home where someone once lived can provide a uniquely intimate experience.

Here are six of the best historic estates to visit this summer in Washington, D.C.:

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

In 1955,  Marjorie Merriweather Post,  the owner of General Foods and one of the richest women in the United States, bought  this Georgian-style mansion and estate in Northwest Washington, D.C . After extensive remodeling,  Hillwood became one of the beautiful homes and grounds in the area.  Today, the entire estate is open to the public.

The house itself is a museum highlighting Post’s admiration for French and Russian culture, especially Russian imperial art. (The prizes of her collection are  two stunning Fabergé Imperial eggs .) But Post also wanted visitors to enjoy a sampling of the world’s cultures while strolling the grounds. The 25-acre estate includes a Japanese-style garden, a French  parterre  (a type of formal garden with low plantings) and a Russian  dacha , or country house. There’s also a putting green, evidence of Post’s passion for golf, as well as a pet cemetery located down a wooded path, which shows her love for animals—especially her pet dogs.

Dumbarton Oaks

Hidden away in historic Georgetown,  Dumbarton Oaks  may have the most serene, beautiful and colorful gardens in all of Washington, D.C. Designed  by the accomplished landscape architect Beatrix Farrand , the gardens were crafted to  offer the “illusion of country life,”  complete with wildflowers, centuries-old trees and pools of deep blue water. However, they are only one piece of what makes this 53-acre property so special.

In 1920, Robert and Mildred Bliss acquired the property and immediately turned the estate into their own private museum for their impressive collection of Byzantine artifacts. In 1940, they donated both the estate and collection to Harvard University. Today , Dumbarton Oaks is a Harvard-run research institute and  widely considered one of the best institutions for Byzantine studies in the world.  

Heurich House

More famously known as the “Brewmaster’s Castle,” this mansion near Dupont Circle was the home of Christian Heurich, D.C.’s greatest beer brewer . The German immigrant arrived in the nation’s capital in the 1870s and put his impressive brewery skills to work. His brewery ( located where the Kennedy Center is  today) quickly grew to the point where  it was the second-largest employer in the District, behind only the federal government . Heurich was still working as a brewer when he died in 1945 at the age of 102.

The Brewmaster’s Castle and its gardens are also notable for being the best-preserved Gilded Age mansion left in the District. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and much of the house and furniture are still original. Tours and events, usually centered around beer , are held frequently.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

In the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast D.C. sits  the home and estate of the famed 19th-century abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass . He bought the hilltop estate in 1878 after  being appointed the marshal of the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. Hayes . After moving in, Douglass became known throughout the community as the  "Lion of Anacostia,"  because his hair, and his courage, were said to resemble that of a lion. He lived out his remaining years on "Cedar Hill," as the estate was known, until his death in 1895.

The National Parks Service took over the property in 1962 and have since worked to restore the estate to what it looked like when Douglass lived there.  Cedar trees still shade the house , and  the view of the city in front of the building is one of the best in all of D.C.

The Anderson House

In 1905, the Washington, D.C., mansion of Larz and Isabel Anderson was completed near  Dupont Circle . Larz was an American diplomat, but it was his wife who had the money. At a young age, Isabel had  inherited nearly $17 million from her grandfather’s shipping fortune , making her one of the wealthiest women in the country.

The Florentine villa built for her and her husband, known as the Anderson House, soon became one of the premiere destinations in the city for galas, society gatherings and concerts, with  guest lists that included presidents, generals and Vanderbilts.  

When Mr. Anderson died in 1937, Mrs. Anderson donated the house and estate to  the Society of Cincinnati ,  the country’s oldest patriotic organization . Lars Anderson was a devoted member of the society, which promotes public interest and appreciation for those who fought in the American Revolution. Today, the house is its headquarters, and the museum inside includes an extensive collection of historical manuscripts, documents and maps relating to the war. 

Tudor Place

When George Washington died in 1799, he left considerable sums of money to all of his step-grandchildren. Martha Parke Custis Peter (one of George Washington's step-granddaughters) and her husband, Thomas Peter, used her sizable inheritance to build what came to be called Tudor Place in today’s Georgetown.

They hired  the architect of the Capitol building, William Thornton , to design the house. Completed in 1816, the building remained in  the Peter family for six generations  until it  was deeded to a foundation in 1983 .  

The house is one of America's last intact urban estates from the Federal Era . Highlights include the  tennis lawn , the tea house and the newly-restored Box Knot Garden . The estate was deemed a  National Historic Landmark in 1960 .

Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House

In 1939, America’s foremost architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, turned 72. At an age when most are considering retirement, he was having perhaps his most prolific period, being regularly commissioned to design elaborate houses such as  Wingspread and Fallingwater for the rich and famous. So, when a middle-class newspaper reporter named Lauren Pope from Falls Church, Virginia, wrote Wright in 1939 asking him to design a new house and estate for Pope and his family, it wasn’t a typical request from a typical client. But Wright took the job, saying that he wanted to build houses for “people who deserved them.”

Located just outside D.C. in Alexandria, Virginia ,  the Pope-Leighey House  remains an example of one of Wright’s first Usonian houses . Built to accommodate the budget and space of urban middle-class American families, some have called it Wright’s “greatest legacy to the nation.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation now owns the estate, and offers regular  tours of the grounds .

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Matt Blitz is a history and travel writer. His work has been featured on CNN, Atlas Obscura, Curbed, Nickelodeon, and Today I Found Out. He also runs the Obscura Society DC and is a big fan of diners.

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Since its purchase in 1955 by the businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post, Hillwood has served to function once as a place of residence, and forever as a museum to educate and awe those who visited it. Hillwood is known largely for its sizeable decorative arts collection that focuses heavily on the House of Romanov, a collection of French decorative art, and acres of sculpted gardens. Included in the collection are, among other pieces, Fabergé eggs, 18th and 19th century French art, and one of the country's finest orchid collections. Hillwood's mansion and gardens opened to the public in 1977 and are maintained by the Post Foundation.

Cloverdale is a historic home located in Washington, DC’s Forest Hills Neighborhood. Originally constructed as a home in 1810, the building was remodeled numerous times while retaining its Colonial Revival style of architecture. In August of 1990, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the building is no longer a home, but the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy.

The Tregaron Estate, also known as the Causeway, is a twenty-acre estate located between Washington, D.C.’s Woodley Park and Cleveland Park neighborhoods. Built in 1912, the Tregaron Estate was designed by famed architect Charles Adams Platt, and it remains one of his most well-known works of architectural design in Washington, D.C. The historic estate includes a mansion, carriage house, greenhouse, gardener's residence, a Russian-style dacha, and numerous landscaping features designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 for its significance in architectural and landscape design and its notable homeowners. It is also a contributing feature of the Cleveland Park Historic District. Today, the buildings are home to the Washington International School and the Tregaron Conservancy. The Tregaron Estate is in the midst of a restoration project by the Tregaron Conservancy and is open to the public.

Woodley is a Federal mansion in Washington, D.C. constructed in 1801 by Philip Barton Key. As a private residence, it was home to well over a dozen influential individuals, including Presidents Grover Cleveland, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan, and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Since 1952, Woodley has been home to the Maret School, a private K-12 school founded in 1911 by three French sisters.

The Babcock-Macomb House is a historical home originally contracted to be built by Kate Woodman Babcock, and it is located in Washington, DC. After the death of her husband Joseph W. Babcock, Kate commissioned the construction of the home in 1911, and it was completed in 1912. Kate never lived in the house, and it changed hands numerous times over the years, and in February of 1995, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the home is currently in use by the Republic of Cape Verde as its United States Embassy.

Dumbarton Oaks includes the historic Dumbarton Oaks House museum and its associated formal garden, a 27-acre wilderness area, and Harvard University's Dumbarton Oaks Research Library. Founded by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection specializes in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies, and includes not only books, but also images, art, objects, and documents.

Tudor Place is a Federal mansion overlooking the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., connected with important individuals and families who founded the nation and its capital city. Tudor Place was built in 1816 by Martha Parke Custis Peter, Martha Washington’s granddaughter, and Thomas Peter, a businessman from Georgetown. Dr. William Thornton, the first Architect of the United States Capitol, designed Tudor Place with architecture styles inspired by ancient Rome and contemporary France. Tudor Place stayed in the Peter family for six generations until the property was deeded to a foundation in 1983. It opened as a museum in 1988 and interprets the multiple historical eras. Tudor Place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was among the first properties designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Halcyon House is a historic home located in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. Built in 1787 by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, the Halcyon House sports a Federal-era-styled architecture, and in its heyday, the home was a hotspot for social events in Washington, DC. On March 31st of 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. After undergoing a restoration effort, the home is currently occupied as the headquarters of the non-profit S&R Foundation.

The Forrest-Marbury House is a historic home in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. Originally built in 1788, the Forrest-Marbury House went through several different phases of ownership in its lifetime, serving as residential, government, and commercial space. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July of 1973. Today, the building is home to Ukraine’s US Embassy.

Built in 1765, The Old Stone House in Washington, D.C. is the oldest building in the District of Columbia. It is also Washington’s last pre-revolutionary colonial building on its original foundation and it has remained unchanged over the years since it’s construction year. Local folks have preserved the house from demolition and remains untouched unlike most colonial homes in the area that were torn down or redeveloped into new buildings. In the 1950s, the house was converted into a public museum and is apart of the Georgetown Historic District.

The Newton D. Baker House was built in 1794 by architect Thomas Beall. The house reflects a New England style of architecture. At five stories high, the home includes six bedrooms, three fire places, and a library. Newton D. Baker, for who the house is named, lived in the house from 1916 to 1920. The house was also occupied by Jackie Kennedy after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

The John Stoddert Haw House is a historic home located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built in 1816 by John Stoddert Haw, the nephew of United States Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, the home would go on to pass between multiple owners over the years. On June 19th of 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the home also contributes to the Georgetown Historic District.

The Isaac Owens House is a historic home in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built in 1816, the house is a notable example of Federal-era architectural style, and has served as the home of several notable persons during its lifetime. On June 19th of 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Recently, the home underwent a period of restoration.

Built in 1800, Dumbarton House is a Federal style mansion located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is the headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) and features a museum of colonial history. Its first occupant was Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the Treasury. The property was acquired by the NSCDA in 1928 and was given the name “Dumbarton House” after the original name of the land. The NSCDA hoped to illustrate domestic life in Georgetown during the early Federal period and opened the two main floors of the structure as a museum in 1932. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 28, 1991.

Built between 1902 and 1905, the Anderson House is a mansion constructed for American diplomat Larz Anderson and author Isabel Weld Perkins Anderson. It is located along Embassy Row in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. After the death of Larz Anderson, the house was bequeathed to Society of the Cincinnati, an organization established in 1783 for veterans of the Continental Army and their descendants, of which Larz Anderson was an active member. Today, the Society maintains its headquarters at the Anderson House, along with an extensive research library and a museum related to the home and its history. The Anderson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

This historic home was once the residence of Charles Evans Hughes (1862-1948), who was one of the country's leading political figures during the early 20th century. He served as New York Governor from 1907-1910, as an Associate Supreme Court Justice from 1910-1916, as U.S. Secretary of State from 1921-1925, as Judge of the Permanent Court of International Justice from 1928-1930, and as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1930-1941. Hughes, who was a Republican and often supported liberal policies, also unsuccessfully ran for president in 1916. He lived in the house during his tenure as Chief Justice. It has been the official residence of the ambassador of Myanmar since 1948 and is situated between the Embassy of Kenya and the Embassy of Cyprus. It is a National Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Joseph Beale House is a historic house designed by architect Glenn Brown. Built in 1909, the Beale House was built for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beale, with an emphasis on design and entertaining guests. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in May of 1973.

The President Woodrow Wilson House was the abode that President and Mrs. Edith Wilson called home after his retirement from office in 1921. Wilson was the only president to remain in Washington D.C. after his term until Barack Obama in 2017. While Wilson lived at the house only three years until his passing in 1924, Mrs. Wilson kept residence there until her death in 1961. She donated the entire site and its contents to the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a memorial to her late husband, the 28th President of the United States. The house, built in 1915, was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark due to its association with the Wilsons.

Built in 1910-1911, the Windsor Lodge, also known as the William E. Borah Apartment and the Chancellery Cooperative, is a 16-unit apartment building in the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District of Washington, D.C. Apartment 21 of the Windsor Lodge was once home to noted isolationist and presidential candidate, Senator William Edgar Borah (1865–1940). Owing to its association with Senator Borah, the apartment building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and listed as a National Historic Landmark, in 1976.

The Lothrop Mansion is one of the most architecturally striking early 20th century mansions in Washington D.C. Erected in 1909, it is named after its builder and prominent businessman Alvin Mason Lothrop (1847-1912), who cofounded a successful department store called Woodward & Lothrop. From the 1970s to 2017, the mansion operated as the Russian Trade Mission. In terms of design, the mansion is an excellent example of Beaux-Arts architecture. It features decorative elements including quoins, an elaborate cornice, and on the south, main facade a projecting octagonal bay, decorative ironwork, a pair of urns, and a large dormer. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, the mansion's current status is unclear.

The Fraser Mansion is a historic building located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built originally as a home in 1890, the Fraser Mansion has gone through a highly varied number of uses over the years, including being a boarding house, a restaurant, and home to portions of the Church of Scientology. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in August of 1975 as the Golden Parrot Restaurant. Today, Fraser Mansion is currently owned by the Church of Scientology, and it serves as their office of National Affairs.

Elinor "Nellie" Medill Patterson, the wife of Chicago Tribune editor Robert Patterson, built this elegant mansion in 1903 as a second home for the family, although its primary purpose was to entertain guests. It is one of two mansions still standing on Dupont Circle (the other is the Wadsworth House) and is a fine example of Neoclassical architecture with Italianate decorative elements. The Patterson's daughter, Eleanor "Cissy" Patterson, became one of the first women in the country to run a major newspaper when she established the Washington-Times Herald in 1939. The Patterson Mansion is also notable for being briefly the home of President Coolidge and his wife, Grace, in 1927 when the White House was undergoing renovations. Another notable guest was aviator Charles Lindbergh, who stayed at the mansion for two nights in June of that year. Today the mansion is an apartment building and event venue called the Oakwood Suites & Studios Dupont Circle.

Today, the Heurich House stands as a museum and space for building community in Dupont Circle. However, when it was originally built in 1892, the mansion served as a home for not only the Heurich family, but also for many of their household staff. Young women such as Dora Niebuhr and other recent migrants from Europe most commonly lived in the house while working.

Welcome to the Heurich House Museum, which preserves the historic Victorian-era Heurich mansion as a museum, event space, and place to build community connections. The mansion, built between 1892-94, was the family home of German immigrant, local brewer, and philanthropist Christian Heurich. Household staff were largely responsible for the upkeep of the large and ornate Heurich family estate in Dupont Circle. This tour will introduce you to some of the places the Heurich house staff lived while working for the family. Let’s begin by exploring what life was like for staff who lived on the grounds of the Heurich family house.

The Elliott Coues House, located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., served as the home of the notable 19th Century ornithologist Elliott Coues from 1887 until his death in 1899. Coues is most remembered for his contribution to the knowledge base regarding North American bird life and classification. In addition to his numerous publications, Coues helped to found the American Ornithologists' Union in 1883. Though the house's architecture is not notable, Coues' former residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places and listed as a National Historical Landmark in 1975 because of its connection to the ornithologist.

The Brodhead-Bell-Morton Mansion, otherwise known as the Levi P. Morton House, is a historic home in Washington, DC. Originally built in 1879 for John T. and Jessie Willis Brodhead as a home, the Morton House has served as host to numerous other high-profile occupants, such as Alexander Graham Bell and U.S. Vice President Levi P. Morton. As of 2016, the building is under the ownership of Hungary with the intention to move the Hungarian Embassy to the home. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October of 1987.

The second president of the Carnegie Institution, Robert Simpson Woodward (1849-1924), lived in this house from 1904 to 1914. Woodward was a geologist, civil engineer, and mathematician who made significant contributions to science over the course of his career, particularly in the field of geology and in scientific experimentation. He was also a skilled administrator. The house itself is believed to have been built around 1885 and was eventually divided into apartments. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its association with Woodward.

Built in 1875, this beautiful red brick home nestled in Logan Circle is where Alma Thomas resided for well over 70 years. Thomas drew inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding her home including a variety of different flowers and trees. One work, "White Roses Sing and Sing" shown below, is said to be influenced by roses grown in her backyard and azalea blooms at the National Arboretum.

Abolitionist, suffragist, writer, poet, and educator Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837-1914) lived in this two-story brick rowhouse from 1881 to 1885. In 1862, she became one of the first free women of African descent to go to the South during the war for the purpose of teaching formerly enslaved people when she moved to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, a sea island that was controlled by the Union early in the war. Grimké is also notable for her diaries, particularly those from the pre-Civil War period and her time on the island. For its association with Grimké, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

One of the founders of the National Education Association (NEA), Zalmon Richards, lived in this house from 1882 until his death in 1899. He served as the NEA's first president and in that role laid the foundation for the organization's early development. It is now the largest labor union in the country. Richards also led the effort to get Congress to pass legislation that created the Office of Education, the predecessor of the Department of Education, in 1867. The house itself, which remains a private residence today, is a small but elegant Victorian home erected 1873. It features a mansard roof, three-sided wooden bays with arched windows and decorative brackets, and an arched main entrance. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

Internationally renowned jazz composer Duke Ellington was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C., and spent part of his youth in this house. Though Ellington opposed the construction of labels to place music into categories such as "jazz," he was among most influential in creating and popularizing that genre of music. From Ellington's perspective, however, his unique sound was simply "American music."

The Evans-Tibbs House is a historic home in Washington, DC’s Shaw neighborhood. Built in 1894, the house is particularly notable for being the residence of the first African American opera singer of international fame, Lillian Evans Tibbs. For some time after her death, her grandson housed an art gallery in the home. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September of 1987.

This Tour is a Walking Tour .

Historic Mansions and Estates of Washington, D.C.

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Description

Explore a selection of nearly three dozen of D.C.'s historic homes on this tour. Whether hosting parties, producing literature or art, or bearing witness to important social, business, and political decisions, these homes offer so much to learn about the history of D.C. This tour will introduce you to notable individuals and the places they called home, and often explore the architecture and the stories of people who lived or worked at the estates or work to preserve these properties to this day. Many of the stops on this tour are private homes or organizations, but some are open for tours and may require advanced booking, so please check in advance if you are interested in a tour.

Dumbarton House Museum is open to the public for self-guided tours: Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm

Admission to the museum is $5

Weekdays by appointment only

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Friday morning music club, dkmc walk weekend, dumbartonhouse.

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History Lessons

Ninety Years of Dumbarton House!

In 1927, the National Board of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) approved that the Society should “acquire an old, historic …

Restoration of the North Garden Niche

Preservation requires understanding the history and construction of the object or structure being preserved if it is to be done correctly. If not careful, our …

The Hidden Figures of Dumbarton House: Slavery and Servitude within the Nourse family Household

For over a decade interns, volunteers, and staff at Dumbarton House have been researching the question—did the Nourse family have any enslaved workers or indentured …

Digitizing the NSCDA Archives

This article contains the work of several interns who have been involved in the ongoing process of digitizing the many records in the archives of …

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena Globosa Globe amaranth, scientifically known as gomphrena globosa, is native to South and Central America and is a member of the Amaranthaceous family. It is …

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Japanese Cedar

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’ The Japanese Cedar is native to forested areas in Japan and China and is a species in the Redwood family. The foliage …

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Japanese Snowbell

Styrax japonicus Japanese Snowbell is native to China and Japan. It is a graceful, compact, deciduous flowering tree that grows to 20-30 feet tall with …

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Chaste Tree

Vitex agnus castus The Chaste Tree is a native of China and India but has become naturalized throughout the South. Peter Henderson, an early American …

Dumbarton House Featured Flora: Scholar Tree, Pagoda Tree

Sophora japonica Sophora japonica is native to China and Korea, but not Japan. The common name, Pagoda Tree, recognizes the early use of the tree in …

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Click below to enter the historic house via the comforts of your own home. Discover new treasures or revisit your favorite parts from your guided tour. To see more objects and ephemera from the Tudor Place Collection & Archive, click here .

Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent at Tudor Place (Tickets for April 30 – May 5)

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Ancestral spaces: people of african descent at tudor place (tickets for may 7 – may 12), slavery at tudor place.

As an historic site that bears the scars of slavery, Tudor Place seeks to look this injustice in the eye.  Click here to learn more.

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4155 Linnean Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Call us: 202.686.5807

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Closed Mondays, some holidays, and for several weeks in January.

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Learn about the many complimentary touring options.

Hillwood is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

Bring your garden club, bus tour, social group, senior center, or any group of ten or more to enjoy the Hillwood experience with special rates and programs.

An elegant and whimsical array of items for every season

Nestled in the hills of Northwest Washington, D.C., Hillwood welcomes visitors from around the world with its gracious hospitality. Escape into an oasis only five miles from downtown Washington and explore the pristine mansion, dine at Merriweather Café, and enjoy the beauty of the formal gardens.

The links to the left provide information for creating a magical Hillwood experience.

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Tour the Historic Decatur House

This photograph of Decatur House, which is also home to the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, was taken by Bruce White for the White House Historical Association on September 2, 2015. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) and his wife, Susan Wheeler Decatur. Tragically, on March 22, 1820 Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel. After his death, his widow Susan Decatur rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven and the last owner left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into co-stewardship arrangement and the house now serves as the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History.

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The White House Historical Association offers free public tours of historic Decatur House every Monday, excluding federal holidays and the Monday following Thanksgiving.*

A fixture of the president’s neighborhood since 1818, Decatur House has been home to foreign and American dignitaries, secretaries of state, members of Congress, and a vice president, in addition to numerous free and enslaved servants who played a pivotal role in shaping America. Visit and explore the nearly 200-year history of Decatur House and its Slave Quarters, the only existing slave quarters within sight of the White House and learn more about the many additional programs and offerings of the Association.

Tours begin at 1610 H Street, NW at 10:30am and 1pm and last approximately one hour. Visitors will be required to reserve their free spot on the tour via Eventbrite.

The White House Historical Association will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation based on guidelines provided by the CDC to maintain a safe, healthy environment for all. The Association reserves the right to adjust its availability as necessary to adhere to the latest public health guidance. Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days prior to their visit should not attend. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should consider rescheduling their tour.

If you’re looking to schedule a private Decatur House tour for your group Tuesday-Friday, please complete our private tour request form here .

Additional Information

Nearby Parking Garages: 1625 I Street NW / 1750 H Street NW / 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW

Nearest Metro Stops: Farragut West and McPherson Square on the Blue/Orange/Silver Line, and Farragut North on the Red Line

The Official 2024 White House Christmas Ornament

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Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. People everywhere still find inspiration today in his tireless struggle, brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity. Douglass's legacy is preserved here at Cedar Hill, where he lived his last 17 years. Read More

The only way to get inside Frederick Douglass's home is to be on a guided tour. Rangers lead tours at scheduled times.

Born enslaved, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became an abolitionist, equal rights advocate, statesman, and more.

Cedar Hill was the name of Frederick Douglass's estate in Anacostia.

This is a competition for students to test their public speaking skills and for them to become great orators like Frederick Douglass.

The site cares for thousands of original objects that belonged to the Douglasses.

Browse historic images of Frederick Douglass, his family, and Cedar Hill.

As a young woman, Anna Murray helped Frederick Bailey escape from slavery. They adopted the name "Douglass" after marrying.

The Growlery was a place where Frederick Douglass went to read, write, and think. See it during your visit!

After Frederick Douglass passed away, his second wife Helen preserved Cedar Hill as a historic house museum.

Last updated: March 2, 2024

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1411 W Street SE Washington, DC 20020

771-208-1499 This phone number is to the ranger offices at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

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Norton Introduces Bill to Rename Rock Creek Park as “Rock Creek National Park”

WASHINGTON, D.C –  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her bill to rename Rock Creek Park as "Rock Creek National Park," which would acknowledge the importance of the park for the nation, visitors, tourists, and its central place for District of Columbia residents. Norton said this name would highlight Rock Creek Park as one of the nation's great historic parks, along with national parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. Rock Creek is the nation's oldest federally managed urban park and the third oldest federal park in the country.

"We are grateful to enjoy all the amenities of a beautiful park running through our city, but Rock Creek Park also deserves its place among the nation's great historic parks," Norton said. "Rock Creek Park is one of America's oldest and most revered parks, enjoyed not only by hundreds of thousands of D.C. residents, but by the millions who visit the nation's capital each year. Rock Creek Park is a tourist destination different from our monument sites only in its creation by nature. Renaming Rock Creek Park as ‘Rock Creek National Park' would help recognize the national status of the park and would assist us in getting Congress to revitalize this remarkable resource in the nation's capital."

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

On the Introduction of the Rock Creek National Park Act of 2024

April 23, 2024

Ms. Norton. Mr. Speaker.

Today, I introduce a bill to redesignate the United States-owned Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia as “Rock Creek National Park.”  Redesignating this park will highlight its significance to the nation, including visitors to the nation’s capital, and will help bring much-needed funding for the park’s inviting trails, waterways and other unique features.

Rock Creek Park is already a “national” park, as it was established by Congress in 1890 “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States.”  Rock Creek Park was the first federally managed urban park and the third federal park ever created, after Yellowstone and Sequoia.  Rock Creek Park was designed to preserve animals, timber, forestry and other interests in the park, and to ensure that its natural state is maintained as much as possible not only for D.C. residents, but for all Americans.  The park also preserves the ancient history of the land, as it was used for temporary settlements and as a quarry for weapons and tools by Native Americans from 7000 BCE until the 1600s.

Since Congress first designated Rock Creek Park, several structures and properties have been established or donated to further preserve Rock Creek Park, creating a vast connected park area that falls under a central National Park Service jurisdiction.  In 1892, the federal government acquired Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, one of the mills used by local farmers during the 18 th , 19 th and 20 th centuries.  In 1950, the Old Stone House located in Georgetown, with its pre-Revolutionary War architecture, was acquired by the park.  The building was restored and programs explain the house’s rich history from the colonial period to the present day.  The Fort Circle Parks were also acquired to interpret and preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington, which created a ring of protection for the nation’s capital during the Civil War.  The Carter Barron Amphitheater, established in honor of the 150 th anniversary of the nation’s capital, became an integral part of D.C.’s live music scene, and has featured acts including Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross and Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as local artists.  The redesignated “Rock Creek National Park” would encompass these later additions to the park. 

Today, Rock Creek Park offers residents of D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, as well as visitors, an escape from our increasingly urban environment.  Residents and tourists alike enjoy many activities in the park’s 2,000 acres, including hiking and biking on the trails, horseback riding, picnicking, tennis and other recreational activities in some of the open fields.  Our residents have expressed their appreciation by volunteering to clean up and maintain the forests, trails and waterways. 

In 1918, landscape architects John Charles Olmstead and Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. wrote of Rock Creek Park, “No matter how perfect the scenery of the park may be or may become, no matter how high its potential value, that value remains potential except insofar as it is enjoyed by large and ever larger numbers of people, poor and rich alike.”  Redesignating Rock Creek Park as Rock Creek National Park will help recognize the national status of the park and protect and revitalize this remarkable resource in our nation’s capital. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.