Washington’s D.C.: Tudor Place
Deep in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s, Georgetown neighborhood lies a manse worthy of any George Washington fan’s trip: Tudor Place.
Home to Martha Washington’s granddaughter Martha Custis Peter and her husband Thomas Peter, the house, which is open to the public, hosts an array of items from the family’s ownership of the estate, which spanned six generations from the early 1800s until 1983. Most impressive amongst these belongings are the variety of Washington items ranging from china to a desk in which two of only a handful of extant letters between Martha and George were found.
The house, which was built by Dr. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol, witnessed the growth of Washington, D.C. In 1814 Martha Custis Peter could see the first U.S. Capitol burn from her house’s windows during the War of 1812.
Today a number of trees block such a view, but unlike Mount Vernon, Tudor Place is easily accessible to D.C. visitors who want to stay within the confines of short-distance public transportation. Located at 1644 31st St. NW, it’s a quick walk from Georgetown shopping and dining.
August 3rd, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Thanks for the tip of your 3-cornered hat, WashingtonWired! We appreciate the kind words and take pride in our role as a sort of “little Mt. Vernon.” Our founding family, the Peters, actually inherited or purchased from Martha’s estate some of the Washington’s prized Mt. Vernon pieces — mirrors, tables, china and the (recently restored) “chest on chest” bureau from their bedroom.