The Octagon
Built 1799 by William Thornton. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
.jpg/960px-American_Institute_of_Architects_(55266857443).jpg)
.jpg/960px-Circle_in_an_octagon_(8581100558).jpg)
The record
| Register name | Octagon, The |
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 1799 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Military, Politics and government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Colonel John Tayloe House |
| Reference number | 66000863 |
| Built | 1799 · more from the 1790s |
| Architect | William Thornton |
| Type of place | single-family detached home |
| Style | Federal architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 1799 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC |
| Coordinates | 38.8963° N, 77.0415° 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 10 miles |
Explore
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 The Octagon 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 The Octagon built?
1799, designed by William Thornton, in the Federal architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit The Octagon?
No public access is recorded. A National Register listing recognizes a place; it does not open it to visitors.
Source: National Park Service
Where is The Octagon?
1799 New York 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.
Where is the nomination form for The Octagon?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near The Octagon?
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 10 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at The Octagon?
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 66000863. 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.