Willard InterContinental Washington

The Willard InterContinental stands two blocks from the White House as a thirteen-story building of Indiana limestone with Beaux-Arts facades. Rooms spread across multiple floors and include ballrooms, meeting spaces, and hallways with columns and high ceilings.

Henry Willard merged six buildings into one operation in 1847 and later handed management to his brother. The current structure rose in 1901 after a design that replaced the earlier framework.

Martin Luther King Jr drafted his 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Willard in 1963, marking a significant moment in American civil rights history.

The main entrance sits on Pennsylvania Avenue within walking distance of Metro Center Station. Event spaces spread across multiple floors and require time to explore for larger groups.

Martin Luther King Jr. worked on his famous speech in one of the rooms in 1963 and revised the text late into the night. The site now draws visitors who want to see the room where those words took shape.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1847

Architects: Henry Janeway Hardenbergh

Official opening: October 15, 1901

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

Floors above the ground: 13

Made from material: Indiana limestone

Address: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Website: https://ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/washington/washa/hoteldetail

GPS coordinates: 38.89667,-77.03222

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22