National Historic Landmark

Old Naval Observatory

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000864

About this property

The Old Naval Observatory is a historic site at 23rd and E Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is where the United States Naval Observatory was located from 1844 to 1893, when it moved to its present grounds. The original observatory building, built 1839–40, still stands, and is a designated National Historic Landmark as of 1965. The Washington meridian of 1850 passes through the Observatory. The campus around the old observatory is split into two parts: the Potomac Annex to the east (where the observatory stands) and the E Street Complex, also known as Navy Hill, to the west. These two parts are separated geographically as the Potomac Annex is at the top of the hill, while the E Street Complex is farther down. The E Street Complex is also designated as a National Historical Landmark as of December 14, 2016. The campus for many years housed the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which moved out in 2012. The property has been taken over by the State Department.

Location

23rd and E Sts., NW
Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia
38.89502, -77.05145

Categories

MILITARYSCIENCE
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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Nearby Historic Sites

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Engine Company 23
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Nearby Battles

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Questions about this property

When was Old Naval Observatory listed on the National Register?

Old Naval Observatory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Old Naval Observatory?

Old Naval Observatory is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Old Naval Observatory a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Old Naval Observatory 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 Old Naval Observatory?

The period of significance for Old Naval Observatory is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Naval Observatory?

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