Number One Observatory Circle, Official residence in Observatory Circle, Washington, D.C., United States
Number One Observatory Circle is an official residence in Observatory Circle, Washington, D.C., United States, serving as the home of the sitting Vice President. The white building stands on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory in the northwestern part of the city and includes several outbuildings and a landscaped garden.
The house was built in 1893 for the superintendent of the Naval Observatory and housed the Chief of Naval Operations starting in 1923. Congress later assigned it to the Vice Presidents, making it a symbol of American government leadership.
The residence remains closed to the public, and only invited guests can enter the grounds when attending official receptions or private events. The tradition of the Vice President living here reflects the American custom of providing historic homes to senior government officials while they serve the country.
The property is not open to the public, and visitors cannot tour or observe the grounds from outside due to high fences and security personnel. Those interested in learning about the location can find information through Naval Observatory archives or official government sources.
The house was built in 1893 for $20,000 on 13 acres that had belonged to Northview, a 73-acre farm the Navy bought in 1880 from widow Margaret Barber, one of the District's largest slaveholders when slavery was abolished there in 1862. The Naval Observatory moved from Foggy Bottom the same year the house was finished.
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