Behind a gate at 1644 31st Street NW, Georgetown keeps one of Washington’s most graceful secrets: Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, a model of Federal-period architecture set on five and a half acres of lawns, boxwood and flowering paths in the heart of the neighborhood.
The house was home to six generations of Martha Washington’s descendants, from 1805 to 1983, and to the enslaved workers and servants who lived and worked here. Inside are thousands of decorative objects, including the largest Washington Collection outside Mount Vernon. The current exhibition, Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington, displays artifacts together for the first time.
Visits to the house are by guided tour, offered Wednesday through Saturday and on Sunday afternoons; the grounds close at 4 p.m. Admission is by suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, military and children 6 to 18, with children 5 and under and members free. Tudor Place also participates in Museums for All, keeping this garden retreat open to everyone.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
