The Tudor Place historic home & garden
History The Tudor place is a neoclassical residence that was designed by Dr. William Thornton, the same person who designed the Capitol and the Octagon house. Martha Custis Peter, the step granddaughter of George Washington, commissioned it. The property was purchased in 1805, after she was left $8,000 in his will, but the design was not completed until 1816. For 178 years the property and the house stayed in ownership from generations of the Peter family. The name of the property and the house The Tudor Place is still a mystery and no one knows just why they decided to name it this. In 1983 however, the house was opened to the public after the death of the great-great grandson. He wanted the house to be opened however preserve the space as those who lived in it would have. The house is now under the direction of the Tudor Place Foundation and is used for public education. The Tudor Place Foundation works hard to preserve the history of the nation s capital through the Tudor Place and its collections held inside while education the public on the value of history. Sed pretium sollicitudin laoreet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla quis turpis magna, non semper risus. In eget dolor tortor,
Interior U pon visiting the grounds and house, one of the first things noticed is that the interior of the house is furnished just as it would have been at the time it was given to the public. One of the things the Tudor Place Foundation prides itself on is the fact that all the original fabric is used throughout the house. The house has areas for guests and areas that were used for the family who lived there themselves. Many of the private spaces were not open to guests during the time in which the family was actually living there and are very interesting to see how well they are preserved. The rooms such as the saloon and drawing room were where guests spent most of their time. These rooms were well designed, as the house was designed for not only private living, but a place for entertaining as well, and the entertainment space is grand.
Design he house was designed to entertain and impress. Al- there are many architectural features that make Tthough this house interesting, one of the main focal points you will notice in the house is the marble floor in the dome that serves as the pathway from the house to the gardens. The full-length windows give a gorgeous view of the outside. Today it is known as one of the only full temple porticos in a US residence, and is the only one that is still standing today. Thornton designed the house with an American style, but with inspiration from the French and English. Thornton had good ideas when it came to how the house should look and all the features it should have, however he was not too skilled in actually making his ideas a reality. Because of this enslaved workers, none of which there are any records of, built the house. Through the years, the house went through many changes as its owners changed four times. Acres were sold, making the property smaller and smaller as the years went on. When Armistead Peter, JR moved in, the house became very modernized. Electricity was added, as was drainage, updated bathrooms, and updates to the kitchen. Because of the times the house was constantly being updated to what was popular and what new things were being invented. Some other changes include a garage for automobiles, expansions and artist studios. Throughout all the changes made to the house and property, The essential character of Martha ad Thomas Peter s original house remained intact.
Collections One of the main attractions is the amount of pieces they have in the collection of about 15, 000 items in the house that are original and historically preserved. About 200 of these pieces include pieces originally owned by Martha and George Washington. n this collection of Ithere own personal items a visitor to the Tudor Place can see the dinnerware that was used in the Presidential house, China table, camp stools that made it through the Revolutionary War, clothing, and other personal items. In addition to these personal items of the Presidential couple, the collection includes items left in the house from all of its previous owners including jewelry, metalwork, fine art, furniture, firearms, musical instruments, and very interesting, an automobile. The automobile was purchased by Armistead Peter JR for his son, and is a 1919 Pierce Arrow 48- B5 Roadster. This object is so valuable to the house, as it is one of the oldest objects in the house, and is a hit for all those who visit. The collection of fine art really allows the visitors to see a timeline of the owners of the house and pull everything they are learning together. All of these items provide a real life experience for visitors that allow them to engage visually in the history of house, no matter what age you are, seeing is believing. Sed pretium sollicitudin laoreet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla quis turpis magna, non semper risus. In eget dolor tortor,
Gardens I n addition to the beautifully built and historical significance of the house, there is more to the property than just the building. On the property there is a gorgeous garden that is said to Reflect the growth of Georgetown, Washington, and the nation and changes in the lives of the family who lived here and the men and women who worked for them or were owned by them. Many of the plants that are here today have ben there for a century or more and are rare to the museum and part of its collection. The garden spans throughout the entire facility and includes a bowling green, orchard lawn, a center walkway, a lily pond. On the South side there are trees and shrubs that are part of the early collection as these have been here the longest. One of the most prized possessions in the living collection was planted by the first owners and is the Boxwood Ellipse. One of the other important features of the garden is the Japanese Tree House that was built by the last owner, who was influenced by Asian design. This was a place to entertain guests for lunch and drinks. One of the main events that was held was the annual Spring Garden Party, which because of the need for preservation, The Tudor Place Foundation still hold this annually today. The garden, just like the house, is a place of learning and education for all who visit it.
Documents ne of the other very interesting features of The ne Oof the other very interesting features of The Tudor Place is the collection of personal documents they have preserved from the owners of the house as well as other family members. The collection includes journals, financial records as well as drawings and blueprints form the original design of the house as well as the updates made to the house throughout time. Along with journals and writings of that nature, there are original photographs and books. With these resources, the house allows The Tudor Foundation to really expand their visitors to students and scholars who are looking for first hand items as a way to learn more about American History. These documents provide a unique experience that is not available at all historical venues and really brings together the education element the house is trying to provide.
Monday CLOSED Tuesday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Sunday noon 4 p.m House tours begin on the hour and last approximately 50 minutes. The first tour begins at 10 a.m. and the last at 3 pm Standard admission: March-December: Adults $10 Seniors (62+) & Military $8 (ID may be requested) Students (age 5-17) $3 (ID may be requested) under 5 FREE Garden tours $3. Includes self-guided maps and Smartphone tudorplace.org 202.965.0400