Washington, D.C.’s historic mansions are as much about architecture as they are about the city’s legacy of power. These homes speak volumes: Federal, Beaux-Arts, and Romanesque Revival styles all mark the landscape, each a chapter in the city’s own design evolution. The Heurich House, or Brewmaster’s Castle, brings a piece of German-influenced Romanesque grandeur, complete with heavy stone facades and intricate woodwork—an ode to a beer baron’s rise in the capital. Over in Georgetown, Tudor Place, designed for Martha Washington’s granddaughter, showcases early American Federal style with some Greek Revival twists. It’s a study in restrained elegance, in sharp contrast to the Beaux-Arts indulgence at Anderson House. Anderson’s mansion, set on Dupont Circle, channels European pomp with marble halls and gilded detailing, more palace than home. Blair House, perhaps the most storied of them all, hosts heads of state right on Pennsylvania Avenue. Its Federal style sets a formal tone, fitting for a building that’s seen more political deals than most boardrooms. These estates are snapshots of D.C.’s shifting architectural identity, bridging European influences with uniquely American ambition, all just a stone’s throw from the Capitol.
17. The Baker House
After the tragic assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, and her children sought solace in a grand mansion in Georgetown known as “The Baker House.” It was where their life together had begun, and it seemed fitting to return there during her mourning period. However, her stay was cut short due to the unwavering attention she received from the public and the paparazzi. Within a year, her presence had turned the Georgetown Street, where she lived into a tourist and paparazzi hub, and she was forced to retreat to her previous home on 1040 Fifth Avenue, New York.
16. The Merrywood Estate
The Merrywood Estate, valued at around $49.5 million, was also once the home of Jackie Kennedy. The 23,000 square foot mansion holds 13 bathrooms and 9 bedrooms, dining terraces, and a complete outdoor kitchen. The home is four stories tall and each floor is serviced by an elevator. It was built in the classic Georgian style and has been renovated extensively to preserve its original architectural details right down to the ornate plaster moldings that give the home so much style.
15. Hillwood Estate
Built in the 1920s and later owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post, Hillwood Estate is as much about collecting as it is about design. Heiress to the Post cereal empire and a fan of all things lavish — Post filled her mansion with imperial Russian artifacts, French decorative arts, and rare European porcelain. Picture Fabergé eggs on display like they’re salt shakers and walls lined with art you’d expect in a private wing of the Louvre. Architecturally, Hillwood leans toward Georgian Revival with a classical bent — brickwork and symmetry, topped off with a sprawling terrace overlooking perfectly manicured gardens. Those gardens aren’t just for show. They’re a spectacle, from the rose garden to the Japanese-style pagoda tucked in the trees, making you forget you’re in the heart of Washington, D.C. Inside, intricate chandeliers hang over grand salons, and nearly every room has a view of the gardens. Hillwood Estate is a time capsule from an era when American money took style cues straight from European nobility.
14. Woodrow Wilson House
The Woodrow Wilson House is a Georgian Revival townhouse set in the Kalorama neighborhood, built in 1915. Wilson moved here after his presidency, making it the only presidential museum in D.C. to actually house an ex-president. Designed by Waddy Butler Wood, an architect known for clean, restrained lines, the house is a study in understated elegance, blending classic red brick with white trim and some modest architectural flourishes. Inside, it’s as if time hit pause in the 1920s. The furnishings are Wilson’s own, down to his book collection and the personal artifacts. In the dining room, Wilson entertained a small circle of Washington’s elite, under chandeliers that are elegant but never ostentatious. The Wilson House preserves the more human side of a president often remembered as an idealist and scholar. It’s modest but stately—a slice of early 20th-century life in D.C., that explores the personal side of one of America’s most complex presidents.
13. Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is where history, art, and botany collide in a Federal-style mansion that punches well above its weight. Built in 1801 and transformed by Robert and Mildred Bliss in the 1920s, into an intellectual oasis. The Blisses turned their residence into a haven for scholars and diplomats, complete with a world-class collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art that would feel at home in a major museum. Architecturally, Dumbarton Oaks is classic Federal style with a twist, leaning into symmetry and balance but with a hint of extravagance. Once inside, the rooms feel more like curated galleries than cozy living spaces. The Byzantine art room could rival some museum collections, and the library is filled with rare books. Outside, the gardens take the estate to another level. Designed by Beatrix Farrand, the terraced landscapes are a blend of formal European gardens and wilder American plant settings.
12. Cady-Lee House
The Cady-Lee House in D.C.’s Takoma Park neighborhood is Victorian extravagance wrapped in eclectic flair. Built in 1887, this Queen Anne-style home doesn’t hold back on decorative details; think turrets, wraparound porches, gables, and stained-glass windows. Designed by architect Leon E. Dessez, the residence catches your eye with a mix of textures — shingles, stone, and elaborate woodwork. Inside, the Cady-Lee House goes full period drama, with parquet floors, high ceilings, and intricate fireplaces that look almost sculptural. The wood-paneled library is both cozy and grand. Even the staircases seem to revel in the home’s Victorian roots, winding their way up in polished wood as if leading you back in time. Known for hosting community events and historic tours, the Cady-Lee House is as much a local treasure as it is a residential marvel.
11. Heurich House (The Brewmaster’s Castle)
The Heurich House, or as locals know it, the Brewmaster’s Castle, is a piece of Gilded Age bling dropped right in the heart of D.C.’s Dupont Circle. Built in 1894 by German immigrant Christian Heurich, a beer baron who made his fortune with the massive Heurich Brewery, this Romanesque Revival mansion is every bit as grand as its backstory. With its fortress-like stone exterior, turrets, and arched windows, it feels like something you’d find on the Rhine rather than in Washington, D.C. The interior is filled with wood-paneled rooms, ornate moldings, and stained-glass windows. The dining room is particularly impressive, with hand-carved mahogany and a marble fireplace. And then there’s the vault in the basement — Heurich wasn’t just making beer; he was safeguarding his empire with the city’s first fireproof residence.
10. Anderson House
Anderson House on D.C.’s Embassy Row was built in 1905 for Larz Anderson, a wealthy diplomat, and his wife, Isabel, The exterior of the Beaux-Arts masterpiece features marble columns, classic limestone facades and French-inspired mansard roofs, while the interior is a museum-worthy display of tapestries, sculptures, and art collected from the Andersons’ world travels. Today, Anderson House serves as the headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, a nod to the Andersons’ passion for American Revolutionary history.
9. Warder Mansion
Warder Mansion in D.C.’s Logan Circle is a Victorian Gothic landmark that stands out like a moody novel among its more reserved neighbors. Built in 1888 for Benjamin Warder, a prosperous farm equipment magnate, this mansion is every bit the storybook mansion, with spires, turrets, and intricate stone carvings. Designed by architect H.H. Richardson, it’s a striking example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture — a style heavy on bold forms and rugged stone. Warder Mansion’s facade is all about drama: arched windows, rugged sandstone, and a distinctive tower that looms over the street. Inside, the mansion originally featured rich woodwork, grand staircases, and spacious rooms designed for high-society gatherings. After passing through various hands over the years, including a stint as a university building, Warder Mansion has undergone careful restoration to reclaim its original splendor. It’s a rare architectural gem that somehow manages to be both imposing and inviting.
8. White-Meyer House
White-Meyer House, tucked into Washington D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood, is a mansion that radiates old-school diplomatic charm. Built in 1912, this Beaux-Arts residence was designed by none other than John Russell Pope, the architect behind the Jefferson Memorial. Constructed for diplomat and journalist Henry White, it was later home to Eugene Meyer, a financial powerhouse who would go on to buy The Washington Post. This mansion became a social epicenter, a place where political and journalistic heavyweights convened over cocktails and conversation. Architecturally, the White-Meyer House has all the refined grandeur Pope was known for, with a limestone facade, high ceilings, and symmetrical lines that feel both stately and approachable. Inside, it’s a study in classic elegance — parquet floors, ornate fireplaces, and expansive windows that offer views of Rock Creek Park.
7. Tudor Place
Tudor Place, perched on five acres in D.C.’s Georgetown, is a Federal-style mansion with layers of American history baked into its brick and sandstone walls. Built in 1816 for Martha Custis Peter, a granddaughter of Martha Washington, and her husband, Thomas Peter, the estate was a symbol of old-world elegance crossed with new-world ambition. Architect Dr. William Thornton, the mind behind the U.S. Capitol, crafted the design, blending neoclassical balance with touches that give Tudor Place its own character. The grand portico with its tall columns is pure Federal charm, while inside, the rooms are filled with early American and European antiques, paintings, and family heirlooms — including items from George and Martha Washington’s Mount Vernon. The estate remained in the Peter family for six generations, an almost unheard-of feat that kept its heritage intact. Now a museum, Tudor Place offers a snapshot of a time when Georgetown was a quiet village rather than the bustling urban hub it is now.
6. Evermay Estate
Built in 1801 by Scottish businessman Samuel Davidson, Evermay captures the elegance of the era with its symmetrical red-brick facade, tall windows, and stately entrance framed by Tuscan columns. Davidson, who amassed his wealth in real estate, envisioned Evermay as a sanctuary from the growing city — and indeed, it feels worlds away from D.C.’s usual hustle. Inside, the rooms feature original woodwork and marble fireplaces. The estate passed through several hands over the centuries, each owner adding their own layer to the property’s rich history. By the mid-20th century, Evermay had become known for its high-society gatherings, hosting everyone from diplomats to politicians, all soaking in the panoramic views of Rock Creek Park. Today, the estate is owned by the S&R Foundation, a nonprofit that uses Evermay as a venue for cultural and philanthropic events.
5. The Octagon House
The Octagon House, standing proudly near the White House, is as intriguing as its name suggests. Built in 1801 by Colonel John Tayloe III, a wealthy Virginian planter, this three-story, six-sided mansion defied architectural norms with its curious design — half house, half trapezoid, and all Georgian-Federal grandeur. Tayloe, one of the wealthiest landowners in the nation, wasn’t looking for a conventional city home; he wanted something bold, and architect William Thornton, famed for designing the U.S. Capitol, delivered. With its rounded rooms, grand central staircase, and intricate woodwork, the Octagon House became a social and political hub, hosting everyone from foreign dignitaries to American presidents. The house even served as a temporary executive mansion after the British burned the White House in 1814, with President James Madison reportedly signing the Treaty of Ghent here, effectively ending the War of 1812.
4. Halcyon House
This Georgian mansion with sweeping Potomac views was built by the eccentric Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of the Navy. Halcyon House stands as one of D.C.’s oldest private residences, reflecting an era when Georgetown was more riverside outpost than elite enclave. The design features thick stone walls, expansive windows, and a style that mixes Georgian elegance with early American. The many wings and additions added over the years created a layout as unconventional as Stoddert’s ambitions. In the 1900s, new owner Albert Clemens (a relative of Mark Twain) took “eccentric” to new heights by adding winding hallways, odd rooms and staircases that led nowhere.
3. Tregaron Estate
Tregaron Estate, nestled in D.C.’s Cleveland Park, is where Tudor Revival meets urban wilderness. Built in 1912 for the well-to-do diplomat James Parmelee and his wife Alice, this property sprawls over 20 acres of undulating hills, terraced gardens, and wooded trails. It’s hard to believe a place like this exists in the heart of Washington, a stone’s throw from the National Cathedral yet so hidden it feels like a private countryside escape. The mansion itself is classic Tudor Revival — think steeply pitched roofs, half-timbering, and sprawling stone walls. Inside, Tregaron’s rooms are rich with dark woodwork and oversized fireplaces. But what really sets Tregaron apart is its landscape, designed by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman. She brought the magic, turning the grounds into a patchwork of terraces, winding paths, and small ponds that seem to appear out of nowhere. Today, Tregaron is a historic landmark with portions open to the public.
2. Woodley Mansion
Woodley Mansion, perched on a hill in Washington D.C., is a Georgian Revival estate with a legacy that goes far beyond its brick walls and stately columns. Built in 1801, the property was originally intended as a summer retreat, offering a cool escape from the sweltering D.C. summers. Over time, it played host to an impressive lineup of residents, including President Grover Cleveland, who loved the place so much he made it his summer White House. Architecturally, Woodley is the epitome of early American elegance. Symmetrical design, towering chimneys, and expansive windows allow the Georgian details to shine. Inside, it’s a study in 19th-century charm, with grand fireplaces and polished wood floors. The property, now part of the Maret School campus, retains its historic landscape of sprawling lawns and shaded paths.
1. Blair House
Blair House, more than “The President’s Guest House,” is actually a historic collection of four separate townhouses stitched together along Pennsylvania Avenue. This architectural patchwork came to be in the 20th century as additional neighboring homes — Lee House, Peter Parker House, and 704 Jackson Place — were acquired and absorbed, creating one grand, cohesive residence. Now an impressive Federal-style mansion, each section retains its own identity, with varying facades that give Blair House a unique, multi-toned look on the outside. The brick hues range from warm red to soft gray, a visual reminder of its multifaceted history. Inside, Blair House is anything but mismatched. Plush carpets, stately drapes, and historical portraits decorate the rooms, creating an atmosphere that blends American colonial charm with the gravitas of a world-class guest house. Originally built in 1824, Blair House began as the home of Dr. Joseph Lovell, then fell to the Blairs, a family closely tied to American political life. Since then, its many rooms have hosted a parade of dignitaries, heads of state, and even presidents-elect. For all its hospitality, though, Blair House has also been the site of serious state business, where alliances have been built and negotiations quietly forged. It’s no mere guesthouse — it’s D.C.’s unsung diplomatic epicenter.
