Old Stone House, Washington D.C.

The Old Stone House is the oldest example of pre-Revolutionary Colonial architecture in Washington, D.C., still standing on its original foundation. In other words, this is one of Georgetown’s rare survivors that has been in place before the United States was the United States, before the Revolutionary War, and long before Georgetown became quite so polished and expensive...

Built in the local, practical style known as vernacular architecture, the house was not trying to impress anyone with fancy imported materials. Its blue granite and fieldstone came from a site about two miles away near the Potomac River, while its oak came from the forests that once covered the Georgetown area. The walls are two to three feet thick, which suggests the builders were either serious about insulation, very suspicious of weather, or possibly preparing for unwanted guests prone to overstaying their welcome...

Beside the house is a Colonial Revival garden enclosed by a white picket fence. The garden stretches deep behind the house and includes roses, perennials, and bulbs arranged in a calm, orderly way that makes modern landscaping look a little underdressed.

Part of the fun here is sorting history from Georgetown gossip. Over the years, people claimed the house served as George Washington’s engineering headquarters. Others said it stood on the site of Suter’s Tavern, where Washington and other important figures supposedly discussed the land deals that helped create the new federal capital. Wonderful stories, very useful for atmosphere — just not backed by solid evidence. So, treat them as legends, but not receipts.

In 1953, the United States government acquired the property and turned it into a museum, now maintained by the National Park Service. Today, as part of the Georgetown Historic District, the Old Stone House offers a rare chance to stand inside a building that has quietly outlasted wars, rumors, renovations, and several centuries of people saying, “They don’t build them like this anymore...”