The Cairo, Moorish Revival apartment building in Dupont Circle, Washington DC, United States
The Cairo is a high-rise residential building with Moorish Revival design located in Dupont Circle, Washington. The structure displays elaborate gargoyles, winged griffins on the cornices, and interlocking elephant head sculptures along the ground-floor window sills.
The building was completed in 1894 by architect Thomas Franklin Schneider and at approximately 164 feet tall was among the tallest residential structures of its era in the city. Its prominence led to new height restrictions for future building projects in Washington.
The building blends Egyptian and Moorish design elements that visitors can see in the ornate stonework and sculptural details throughout the facade. This combination of Oriental styles appears in the twisted patterns and elaborate decorative features that cover the exterior surfaces.
The building sits at 1615 Q Street NW in a central neighborhood with good access to public transportation, restaurants, and cultural venues. Visitors should plan to park nearby and explore the area on foot to see all the architectural details on the exterior properly.
In 1940, about 500 canaries were released in the building's ballroom beneath its chandeliers and sang during a celebration. This unusual event has long become a local part of the building's story.
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