Lenthall Houses, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C
The Lenthall Houses are two connected red brick buildings constructed around 1800 on the George Washington University campus. Each structure has two floors with attics and basements, featuring evenly spaced windows, side-by-side doors at the front, and small dormer windows set into the shared roofline.
John Lenthall, an architect who emigrated from England, constructed these houses around 1800 and collaborated with Benjamin Latrobe on the U.S. Capitol. In the 1970s, the structures were moved from their original 19th Street location and carefully restored to their current position on the university grounds.
The houses reflect how residential buildings were designed in early Washington and the architectural preferences of its residents. The red brick walls and balanced window arrangement express the Federal style's emphasis on order and simplicity that appealed to those building a new capital.
The houses are freely visible from campus and accessible to view from outside, though interior tours are not available. Walking or using public transportation avoids parking challenges in this densely populated university area.
A striking detail involves John Lenthall's tragic fate: he died when part of the Supreme Court chamber at the old Capitol collapsed during work. His houses were subsequently preserved and relocated to ensure their survival and continue telling the story of his architectural legacy.
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