Sun Building

The Sun Building at 1317 F Street Northwest is a nine-story structure topped with a copper dome, situated among the commercial buildings of downtown Washington DC. The original architectural details remain intact while the building now serves as modern office and commercial space.

Constructed between 1885 and 1887, architect Alfred B. Mullett designed this structure as headquarters for the Washington Bureau of the Baltimore Sun newspaper. The building's name derives from this original purpose as the newspaper's capital city office.

The building housed influential organizations including Woodrow Wilson's law practice, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and early FBI offices, reflecting its status as a prestigious downtown business hub.

The building is located near Metro Center station for easy access and transit connections. Visitors can view the preserved architectural elements from the street while the interior functions as contemporary office space.

The building originally featured steam-powered elevators that were replaced by hydraulic systems in 1909 and later converted to electric mechanisms in 1922. This progression of technological upgrades reflects the evolving innovations in building engineering across the early twentieth century.

Location: Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.89733,-77.03021

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:25