While walking home from the Hillwood Museum last weekend, I stopped by my favorite section of Embassy row for a few pictures. 
spooky Embassy of Cameroon at the top, not sure which 2 these are above.Embassy row is the nickname of a stretch of Massachusetts Avenue here in DC from where I live all the way west for a few miles to Ward Circle. This stretch of road was the premier address at the turn of the last century for the wealthiest families to build their mansions. Nowadays, these beautiful buildings are too large for private residences; many are apartments, foundation headquarters and embassies (from which the road derives its nickname)
Now the Indonesian embassy, this was the former home of heiress Evelyn Walsh McLean, last private owner of the Hope Diamond.
Embassy of India - beautiful but in poor condition
Not an embassy, but one of my favorite buildings along Mass. Ave, The Cosmos Club, seen above and below. This became the location for the club in 1952 -before that it was the Townsend Mansion.
Embassy of Estonia - intersting placement on a sharp corner. I've always wondered how the odd building shape was dealt with inside.
Embassy of Luxembourg - I swear this embassy is larger than the country!
This embassy is small but majestic!
Embassy of Ireland above facing Sheridan circle.
Not sure if these are embassies, but aren't they pretty?
This newly remodeled and super luxurious embassy is breathtaking and in a primo location.
And I saved the best for last. This is a private home and is probably my favorite house in Washington. It faces Sheridan circle and the facade is rounded. I love that palladian porch on the 2nd floor!
The neighboring house is really beautiful too :-)
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12 comments:
I loved this tour. These buildings are quite grand and lovely. Thanks.
I have always zipped past Embassy Row in cars and never got a good look at the buildings like I wanted, so it's fun to see them here. Love that the Embassy of Luxembourg is "larger than the country." Ha.
The turreted corner of the Estonian embassy intrigues me. Rounded corners are fairly typical in London architecture of the Regency/Wm IV period but one rarely encounters them in the states. It always struck me as a graceful way to terminate a corner building.
Loved this tour!!
Toby, because of the cross streets in the grid, we have many buildings like this throughout dc. I should go around photographing them -it would be an interesting post!
Kwana and Julia, thanks so much! Julia, the luxembourg embassy is one of the largest on that street -for one of the smallest countries in the world!
Thanks for the tour.
I believe the one on Sheridan Circle is part of the Embassy of Egypt, not a private home. It was on the Kalorama House tour a couple of years ago and it was one of my favorites.
The interior of the Indonesian embassy it is over-the-top. The original owner wanted the main stair hall to remind him of a luxury liner with tiffany glass skylight and double curving staircases. It is like right out of the Titanic.
I did! I thoroughly enjoyed this post! They are all so gorgeous. Estonia's is especially unique. Thanks for the fascinating tour!
This reminds me a bit of the Belgravia area in London, which also has a high concentration of embassies.
I lived in a former embassy on Garfield Street for a few years, as a child.
I like the small but majestic one!
TTI, thats my 2nd favorite one!!! Sounds like you had a magical childhood: things like that so influence the way you turn out!
TTI, thats my 2nd favorite one!!! Sounds like you had a magical childhood: things like that so influence the way you turn out!
All beauties, they are!
so gorgeous! these tours are a lot of fun : ) you're so right about luxembourg...both very beautiful!
Oh, I loved this tour of the beautiful embassies.....How lovely they all are, indeed! It has been too many years since I have visited DC......I must get back there soon!
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