Decatur House
National Historic Landmark

Decatur House

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
66000858

About this property

Decatur House is a historic house museum at 748 Jackson Place in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It is named after its first owner and occupant, the naval officer Stephen Decatur Jr. Built in 1818, the house is located at the northwest corner of Lafayette Square, about a block from the White House. In 1836, new owners built an outbuilding on the property at the back which was in part used for slave quarters. Until the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, weekly auctions of enslaved black persons were held in the house's backyard, now a wedding venue. The building currently houses a museum, as well as the National Center for White House History, operated by the White House Historical Association.

Location

748 Jackson Pl., NW.
Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
38.90007, -77.03824

Categories

MILITARYPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

American Peace Society
Early Republic
0 mi
US Chamber of Commerce Building
Industrial
0 mi
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Industrial
0.1 mi
Renwick Museum
Industrial
0.1 mi
Metropolitan Club
Pre Contact
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Decatur House listed on the National Register?

Decatur House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Decatur House?

Decatur House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Decatur House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Decatur House has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Decatur House?

The period of significance for Decatur House is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1818.

Can I research the history near Decatur House?

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