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National Register of Historic Places

Octagon, The

Octagon, The is a historic place in Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, and designated a National Historic Landmark. Its National Register reference number is 66000863.

Washington, District of Columbia County, District of ColumbiaListed October 15, 1966NRIS #66000863★ National Historic Landmark
Photograph of Octagon, The
Photo: Octagon, The via Wikimedia Commons — see the file page for author and license. Image source
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Location 01

Octagon, The

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About this place

What is Octagon, The?

The Octagon House, also known as the Colonel John Tayloe III House, is a house located at 1799 New York Avenue, Northwest in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It was built in 1799 for John Tayloe III, the wealthiest planter in the country, at the behest of his new family member George Washington, as his sister Sarah Tayloe married William Augustine Washington, son of Gen. Washington's half brother Augustine Washington Jr. In September 1814, after British forces burnt the White House during the War of 1812, Tayloe, for six months, lent the Octagon House to United States president James Madison and first lady Dolley Madison to serve as the Executive Mansion. It is one of only seven houses to serve as the presidential residence in the history of the United States of America, and one of only three, along with the White House and Blair House, that still stand.

Source: Wikipedia, text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Listing details

Name
Octagon, The
City
Washington
County
District of Columbia County
State
District of Columbia
Listed on the National Register
October 15, 1966
NRIS reference number
66000863
Resource type
building
National Historic Landmark
Yes
Coordinates
38.89635, -77.04150
When was Octagon, The listed on the National Register?

Octagon, The was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

Where is Octagon, The located?

Octagon, The is located in Washington, District of Columbia County, District of Columbia at approximately 38.89635, -77.04150. See the map above.

Is Octagon, The a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Octagon, The is designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest federal recognition for a historic place.

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