Historic Buildings

Dumbarton House “is…one of the very finest and most beautiful houses in the United States,” according to architectural historian Fiske Kimball, consulting architect for its original restoration. Dumbarton House reflects the emerging Adamesque style of architecture of the early Republic, and has an outstanding collection of Federal period furniture and decorative arts. DUMBARTON HOUSE FEATURED OBJECTBuilt during the tumultuous presidencies of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the house has been restored to show it as it might have appeared during the time of its first resident, Joseph Nourse, who served as Register of the U.S. Treasury for the first six Presidents of the United States. The museum presents an unusual opportunity to catch a glimpse of what life was like in Washington during the early days of the Republic. Today, Dumbarton House offers public and school tours, special exhibitions, lectures and concerts, children's days, and holiday open houses relating to the Federal period. Its beautiful Belle Vue Room and outdoor gardens are available for private and corporate rentals.

Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest national and international recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse at 1318 Vermont Avenue, NW, that is now this Historic Site. It was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was her last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the Council spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women and the Black community.

Located on a picturesque hilltop in Washington, DC, President Lincoln's Cottage is the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln's presidency aside from the White House. During the Civil War, President Lincoln and his family resided here from June to November of 1862, 1863 and 1864.

The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, on Capitol Hill, explores the evolving role of women and their contributions to society through the continuing, and often untold, story of women's pursuit for equality. The museum is the headquarters of the historic National Woman's Party and was the Washington home of its founder and Equal Rights Amendment author Alice Paul. Sewall-Belmont, named in the first Save America's Treasures legislation, is the only museum in the nation's capital dedicated to preserving and showcasing a crucial piece of our history—the fight for the American woman's right to vote. This struggle is documented through one of the most significant collections in the country focused on the suffrage and equal rights movements. Alice Paul, founder of the National Woman's Party, dedicated her life to securing equal rights for women. The political strategies and techniques of Alice Paul and the NWP became the blueprint for civil rights organizations during the twentieth century. Paul is known internationally as a humanitarian; she was a great revolutionary and pioneer in the fight for women's equal rights.

Decatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC, and one of only three remaining residential buildings in the country designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the father of American architecture. Completed in 1818 for naval hero Stephen Decatur and his wife Susan, its distinguished neoclassical architecture and prominent location across from the White House made Decatur House one of the capital's most desirable addresses and home to many of our nation’s most prominent figures. Today, visitors see a restoration in progress and hear the compelling stories of this unique site, from elite socializing to a slave's campaign for freedom.

In 1995, the National Park Service opened the White House Visitor Center. This facility, located two blocks east of the White House at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., provides a comfortable, accessible, indoor environment for viewing White House history exhibits and shopping at the association's gift shop.

The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for more than two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government.

The Woodrow Wilson House is a national historic landmark and house museum that focuses on President Woodrow Wilson's "Washington Years (1912-1924)". The museum promotes a greater awareness of Wilson's public life and ideals for future generations through guided tours, exhibitions and educational programs. The museum also serves as a community preservation model and resource, dedicated to the stewardship and presentation of an authentic collection and property. As you may know, the acquisition and preservation of Woodrow Wilson House is part of the great movement of historic preservationthat recognizes that our historic sites are irreplaceable national treasures. Noted historian David McCullough tells us that historic places connect with the American people unlike anything else, making history accessible and credible. In fact, most Americans think that museums and historic sites are the most trustworthy sources for exploring the past.