Decatur House

Decatur House is a historic house museum at 748 Jackson Place NW, beside Lafayette Square and steps from the White House. Built for naval officer Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan, it is among Washington’s oldest surviving homes. A guided tour brings its restored rooms and changing residents to life, including the house’s connection to slavery. The courtyard and carriage house also give the property a role as a small event venue. Plan ahead: public access is limited, and the house is open on Mondays.

A house beside Lafayette Square

Decatur House stands at 748 Jackson Place NW, beside Lafayette Square and across from the White House. Built between 1818 and 1819 for naval officer Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan, it is one of Washington’s oldest surviving homes. The architect was Benjamin Henry Latrobe, one of the country’s first professional architects.

The house was built in the federal style. Decatur did not live there long: he died 14 months after the house was completed, following a duel with Commodore James Barron. The property later had a number of residents, among them Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren and Washington socialite Mrs. Truxtun Beale.

What the tour covers

Guided tours take visitors through the house’s restored rooms and share historical information about its residents and Washington’s past. The rooms include Federalist and Victorian furnishings, and exhibits explore the city’s history across two centuries. A tour has been described as taking about an hour, giving you time to look through the rooms as well as hear their stories.

Decatur House’s history also includes the story of slavery. John Gatsby held weekly slave auctions at the house, and Charlotte Dupry later challenged Henry Clay in court to secure her freedom. These histories are part of what makes the house more than a record of its prominent owners.