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The Octagon Museum

When the British burned the White House, President and Mrs. Madison moved into one of the most beautiful homes in Washington, D.C.

A short block from the White House stands the Octagon, a National Historic treasure. One of the first great homes built in the new nation’s capital, the Octagon is a landmark of America’s architectural, political, and cultural history. Completed in 1801 for the eminent Tayloe family and designed by William Thornton, the original architect of the U.S. Capitol, the Octagon is one of the most significant and elegant buildings to remain standing from the early federal city. It was in the upstairs parlor that President Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815 establishing peace with Great Britain. In 1899, The American Institute of Architects chose the severely deteriorated building as its new national headquarters, initiating a series of state-of-the-art restorations.

After over two centuries of use, adaptation, renovation, and restoration, the Octagon continues to serve as a reminder of the great beauty of early American design and the lasting value of architectural excellence.

The Octagon is open for self-guided tours Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The museum may be closed for private events so please call or email ahead if you are planning to visit. The following audio tours are available and may be downloaded to any mp3 player:

Tour 1 for information on the Sustainable Octagon,

Tour 2 for information on the Historic Octagon,

Tour 3 for the Restored Octagon, and

Tour 4 for the Upstairs/Downstairs of the Octagon.

Private and group tours may be arranged outside of regular hours by submitting a request, emailing us, or calling 202-626-7439.

Sign up to receive notifications about the Octagon such as upcoming events by joining our mailing list.

Find us on Facebook at The Octagon Museum.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 17, 2012

Presidential Neighbors Walking Tours

• Morning: 8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

• Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Full Day: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Register by May 9. Advance registration required.