Friendship House

Friendship House is a residential building in Washington, D.C. featuring the balanced proportions and classical details typical of Georgian design from the 1790s. The symmetrical facade with its carefully arranged windows and doorway reflect the architectural standards established for well-built homes of that period.

Built in 1795, the house appeared during Washington, D.C.'s earliest years as the nation's capital. It represents the first wave of private residential construction that established the city's architectural character during this formative period.

The house reflects how wealthy early residents of Washington adopted European design traditions as a mark of status and taste. Walking past, you notice the careful details that signaled sophistication in the city's first decades.

The house appears on the National Register of Historic Places, which means its structure is protected and maintained according to preservation guidelines. Note that this is a private residence, so access may be limited or require advance arrangements.

The house is a rare surviving example of private residential construction from the capital's earliest years, when most building activity focused on government structures. Its presence reveals that wealthy individuals were already establishing their homes as the city's official buildings were being erected.