Blair House
U.S. presidential guest house in Washington, D.C. Built 1824. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
.jpg/960px-Blair_House_(53843646957).jpg)
What it is
Blair House, also known as The President's Guest House, is an official residence in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The President's Guest House has been called "the world's most exclusive hotel" because it is primarily used as a state guest house to host visiting dignitaries and other guests of the president. Parts of the historic complex have been used for an official residence since the 1940s.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 1651 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Politics and government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Blair-Lee House; Blair House National Historic Landmark |
| Reference number | 66000963 |
| Built | 1824 · more from the 1820s |
| Type of place | building complex, guest house, chancery |
| Style | Victorian architecture, Federal architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 1651 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC |
| Website | blairhouse.org ↗ |
| Coordinates | 38.8988° N, 77.0387° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Washington | 675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | The White House and President's Park · under a mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 4 miles · Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 5 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 9 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 3 records ↗
Map
Nearby in District of Columbia
Local history books for Washington
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Blair House listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Blair House built?
1824, in the Victorian architecture and Federal architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Blair House?
Yes. Blair House is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Blair House?
1651 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The nearest national park unit is The White House and President's Park, under a mile away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Blair House?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Blair House?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Blair House?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas, 4 miles away. Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) is 5 miles away, and Greenbelt Park Ranger Station is 9 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Blair House?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000963. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.