Presidential Townhouse, Government residence in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.
The Presidential Townhouse is a building on Lafayette Square with brown sandstone steps, spread across four floors and housing several rooms for different purposes. The ground floor holds two dining rooms, while the upper stories contain multiple bedrooms and the basement once provided quarters for security personnel.
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. lived here until his death, before the federal government acquired the property in the 1950s. It served as accommodation for former presidents visiting the city from 1969, until that function ended in 2015.
Former presidents used the house for visits to the capital, and the government arranged separate rooms with dedicated staff for them. The facility offered space for several guests and close advisors who accompanied them during official stays.
The building stands on Jackson Place NW, across from Pennsylvania Avenue and near several other official houses on the square. Visitors can see the outer facade from the sidewalk, but the interior is not open to the public.
The Office of the National Cyber Director is based in this historic house, combining modern digital security tasks with a classic building. The shift from a residence for former heads of state to an office for cybersecurity shows the changing priorities of the federal government.
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