Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., Military barracks and ceremonial grounds in Southeast Washington, United States.
The Marine Barracks sit at the intersection of 8th and I streets in Southeast Washington. The compound includes officers' quarters, enlisted barracks, and parade grounds between brick buildings with white columns.
President Thomas Jefferson selected this site in 1801 for the Marines' first permanent barracks. George Hadfield designed the compound in the Federalist style, and British troops burned parts of it during the War of 1812.
The Commandant's House shows classical architecture from the early Republic. The band often plays patriotic melodies that echo across the neighborhood.
The entrance sits in a residential area a few blocks south of Capitol Hill. Ceremonies run about ninety minutes, and visitors should arrive early to secure seating on the bleachers.
The grounds span a full city block and form a self-contained world within the city. Residents live and work on the same property, which is rare among active military posts.
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