Old Post Office Pavilion

The Old Post Office Pavilion, now known as the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, is a striking historic building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Built between 1892 and 1899 to designs by the architect Willoughby J. Edbrooke, the building was originally constructed of granite, steel, and iron. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style, it was the tallest building in the capital when it was completed. Even today, it ranks among the third-tallest structures in the District of Columbia, after the Washington Monument and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, since strict height restrictions have been in effect since 1910. The imposing complex is distinguished by a clock tower more than 270 feet tall and a five-story atrium. Since 1983, the tower has housed ten bells, a gift to the United States from Britain's Ditchley Foundation, which are rung on special occasions.

The building has a checkered history as part of the Federal Triangle and the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site. After being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and 1973, it was the focus of preservation debates for a long time. Plans to demolish it in the 1970s failed in the face of public protests, which led to the founding of the D.C. Preservation League. Most recently, the complex served as the home of various government agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts. Because converting it for public administration proved difficult, a consortium controlled by Donald Trump acquired the rights to use the building for 60 years in 2013. After an extensive renovation, the building reopened in 2016 as a luxury hotel with 217 rooms, a presidential suite, and a townhouse.

Following a change of ownership in 2022, the hotel reopened on June 1, 2022, under the name Waldorf Astoria Washington DC. Today, you can experience the historic facade and the interior of the building, which is regarded as a testament to the city's architectural and political history. The clock tower remains a central landmark, while the atrium and the rooms reflect the transformation from post office to modern luxury hotel.