Designed by William Thornton (the Capitol’s first architect) in 1800 for one of the largest slave-owners in the state of Virginia, this minimally furnished house museum occupies a symmetrically winged structure designed to fit an odd triangular lot. Its unusual floorplan and clearly delineated spaces for servants and homeowners are curious but there's not much else here to attract visitors.
Octagon Museum
White House Area & Foggy Bottom
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
13.21 MILES
One of America's most visited historic sites, Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington.
1.3 MILES
The legendary exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum include the Wright brothers' flyer, Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St…
1.22 MILES
Two buildings. Hundreds of masterpieces. Infinite enjoyment. It's easy to spend a full day at the National Gallery of Art, which showcases a whole range…
0.67 MILES
Anchoring the National Mall's west end is the hallowed shrine to Abraham Lincoln, who gazes across the Reflecting Pool beneath his neoclassical, Doric…
National Museum of African American History & Culture
0.6 MILES
Located in Washington, DC, the sensational National Museum of African American History & Culture is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African…
1.8 MILES
Since 1800, this is where the legislative branch of American government (ie Congress) has met to write the country's laws.
0.28 MILES
Play image association with the words “Washington, DC,” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is…
1.49 MILES
Sprawling across hills above the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for America’s most revered…
Nearby White House Area & Foggy Bottom attractions
1. George Washington University's Corcoran School of the Arts & Design
0.09 MILES
Opened in 1890, the Corcoran was DC's first art museum. It closed in 2014, but the George Washington University has taken it over, and the historic beaux…
2. Department of the Interior Museum
0.17 MILES
Responsible for managing the nation’s natural resources, the Department of the Interior operates this small museum to educate the public about its current…
3. Daughters of the American Revolution Museum
0.18 MILES
This neoclassical behemoth is supposedly the largest complex of buildings in the world owned exclusively by women. They own the entire city block! Enter…
0.22 MILES
Part of the Smithsonian group, the Renwick Gallery is set in a stately 1859 mansion on the same block of Pennsylvania as the White House. It's emerged as…
0.23 MILES
The Organization of American States operates this small art museum in a separate building on its property. It features changing exhibits of modern and…
0.23 MILES
Attached to Blair House as part of the official accommodations for the President's overnight guests, this building was built for Robert E Lee’s cousin in…
0.24 MILES
Together, the 1824 Blair House and adjoining 1858 Lee House have functioned as part of the official presidential guesthouse complex since 1943, when…
8. Organization of American States
0.24 MILES
A forerunner to the UN, the OAS was founded in 1890 to promote cooperation among North and South American nations. Its main building on the corner of…