Cleveland_Abbe_House

Cleveland Abbe House

Cleveland Abbe House

Historic house in Washington, D.C., United States

The Cleveland Abbe House, also known as the Timothy Caldwell House and Monroe-Adams-Abbe House, is a historic house at 2017 "I" Street NW in Washington, D.C. Built in 1805, it is an excellent example of Federal period architecture. It has had a series of distinguished residents. Most notable are James Monroe, who occupied it as United States Secretary of War and as President of the United States while the White House was restored after the War of 1812, and historian Henry Adams. However, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975 for its association with meteorologist Cleveland Abbe (1838–1916), the founder of the National Weather Service, who lived here from 1877 until his death. It is now home to the Arts Club of Washington.

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Description and history

The Cleveland Abbe House stands on the George Washington University campus northwest of the White House, on the north side of "I" Street across from James Monroe Park and near its junction with Pennsylvania Avenue. It is a three-story brick row house built out of red brick and topped by a dormered gable roof. It is four bays wide, with the entrance in the leftmost bay. Windows are rectangular sash, with stone sills and splayed keystone lintels. A stone string course separates each of the floors from the next. The main entrance has an elaborate Federal surround, with sidelight windows and a large half-round transom window. The interior of the house retains its original Federal period finishes.[3]

History

Timothy Caldwell built the house around 1802 to 1805. James Monroe lived there from 1811 to 1817, a period during which he was Secretary of State and War Secretary. From his inauguration as America's fifth President in March 1817 until the White House was fully restored in September 1817, the Cleveland Abbe House served as the Presidential residence.[4] In the 1820s, the house was occupied by the British legation. Henry Adams lived here with his parents, Charles Francis Adams Sr. and Abigail Brooks, from 1860 to 1861.[5]

Cleveland Abbe, founder of the U.S. Weather Bureau, lived here from 1877 to 1909. It was during his ownership that a number of alterations were made to the house. He raised it from 2+1⁄2 to 3+1⁄2 stories, demolished some of its outbuildings, and built additional rooms in the rear.[3] After Abbe died in 1916, the Arts Club of Washington purchased the building.[6]

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Arts Club of Washington" in 1969.[1] It was declared a National Historic Landmark as "Cleveland Abbe House" in 1975.[2][3]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleveland Abbe House.
  1. [1]
    "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. [2]
    "Abbe, Cleveland House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  3. [3]
    James Sheire (February 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Timothy Caldwell House—Monroe-Adams-Abbe House / Arts Club Building" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying photos, exterior, from 1971 and 1975. (1.26 MB)
  4. [4]
    "History | Arts Club of Washington". Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  5. [5]
    "DC Writer's Homes - An Online Guide to Where Authors Lived in the Greater Washington DC Region". Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  6. [6]
    Abbe House (Arts Club of Washington)
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