Blair House

Blair House, Washington (Historic sites) — Fig. 01Blair House© Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain

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About Blair House

Blair House, on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., is the official guest house of the U.S. president. Built in the Federal style in 1824, the building was acquired by the government in 1942 and has since hosted mainly visiting heads of state. Many presidents have spent the night here before their inauguration. During the extensive renovation of the White House between 1949 and 1952, it also served as a temporary working residence for the president. The property is named after Francis Preston Blair Sr., who bought it in 1836. A protected National Historic Landmark, the historic building offers a glimpse into the political history of the United States.

Based on the article “Blair House (Washington, D.C.)” from the German Wikipedia, summarized and rephrased by a language modelLicense CC BY-SA 4.0

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At a glance

Category: Sight › Historic sites
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Address: 1651 Pennsylvania Ave NW
20503 Washington, USA
District: Ward 2
Phone: +12025668000
Website: www.Blairhouse.org
Email: —
Coordinates: 38.89903° N · -77.03849° E
Data quality: confidence 0.99
Identifier: ID ff6aa6cf-f00…

Part of the tour

Washington with Fork and Glass: A Day Between Downtown and the Memorials →From the White House to Penn Quarter: Walking Washington →

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Location & surroundings

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FAQ about Blair House

quick answers

What is Blair House in Washington?

Blair House, on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., is the official guest house of the U.S. president. It mainly hosts visiting heads of state, and many presidents have spent the night here before their inauguration. The building is protected as a National Historic Landmark.

What is the history of Blair House?

Blair House in Washington was built in 1824 in the Federal style and is named after Francis Preston Blair Sr., who bought it in 1836. In 1942, the U.S. government acquired the property. During the extensive renovation of the White House between 1949 and 1952, it served as the temporary working residence of the president.

Where is Blair House located?

Blair House stands at 1651 Pennsylvania Ave NW in Ward 2 of Washington, D.C. According to travelguide195, the White House is only about 99 meters (325 feet) away. That puts the president's guest house right in the political heart of the city.

What can you see around Blair House?

Around Blair House in Washington, you'll find several historic sites and museums packed into a small area. Trowbridge House is about 33 meters (108 feet) away, and historic Jackson Place about 53 meters (174 feet). The museum The People’s House: A White House Experience is about 111 meters (364 feet) away, and you can reach Decatur House on Lafayette Square, home to the National Center for White House History, after about 120 meters (394 feet).

Are there tours and restaurants near Blair House?

Yes, Blair House in Washington is part of two tours on travelguide195: “Washington by Fork and Glass: A Day Between Downtown and the Memorials” and “From the White House to Penn Quarter: Washington on Foot.” Within a 500-meter radius, travelguide195 lists about 184 restaurants.

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Travel tip from Wikivoyagewritten by travelers
The Blair House was built in 1824 for Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Lowell, and sold in 1837 to real estate mogul, Francis Preston Blair and inherited by Montgomery Blair. The adjacent house was owned by the Robert E. Lee family. The U.S. government bought the Blair House in 1942, and has since used it as the official guest house for state visitors, at the insistence of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who was tired of running into Winston Churchill and other visitors roaming around the White House in the middle of the night. Today, the Blair house not only consists of the original townhouse, but includes the Lee House and two other adjacent townhouses. The total space of 70,000 sq ft exceeds that of the White House. Blair House is not open to the public.
Source: Wikivoyage, „Washington, D.C./West End“ · authors per page history · CC BY-SA 4.0
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