Oscar W. Underwood House, National Historic Landmark on Massachusetts Avenue, Washington D.C., United States.
The Oscar W. Underwood House is a Second Empire style residence in Washington D.C. featuring a mansard roof with decorative brackets, tall windows, and ornate stone details across its exterior. The building sits connected to neighboring structures along Massachusetts Avenue and displays the hallmarks of this architectural style.
From 1914 to 1925, the house belonged to Senator Oscar W. Underwood, a leading figure in crafting the Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act of 1913. The residence represented the home of a powerful legislator during a transformative period in American politics.
The residence reflects how wealthy Washington residents of the late 1800s chose to display their status through grand architectural design. The refined details and impressive scale along Massachusetts Avenue reveal what mattered to the city's most prominent families during that era.
The building stands in central Washington D.C. near multiple public transportation options and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should know it sits on a busy street where many other historic structures are nearby for exploring.
The property later became an educational center, housing both the National Law Center and the Art Department of George Washington University. This shift from private home to teaching spaces shows how historic buildings adapt to new roles.
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