Visitors visiting the White House and Memorials on National Mall should add this small museum into the agenda. The Octagon Museum is about 10 minute walk from the White House ground (President's Park) and the west side of National Mall. The museum is and exhibit...More

Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s. They are characterized by an octagonal (eight-sided) plan and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all around. The most famous Octagon House of all was built between 1798 and 1800 in...More

This is a delightful little jewel in the heart of the City. It was built in the early 1800's as a winter Residence for the Tayloe family. The house itself and is a wonderful example of the architecture of the period. We booked a tour...More

The Octagon House is famous for being the White House temporarily for James Madison when the original was burned, and that alone makes it worth visiting. It also houses the desk where the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812 was signed. I like...More

I visited the Octagon House because of my interest in both architecture and history. As an example of early 18th Century architecture, it's a rare example of upper class urban living. During my visit they were in the midst of some restoration, which was interesting...More

The Octagon Museum is one of the best examples I have seen of an historic home preserved for the sake of education. If you are deeply interested in architecture and the decorative arts, preservation of the built environment, nineteenth century America, and African American history,...More

While others are looking at the White House (a place most people have no chance of touring), you can walk a few blocks to a very historic home which is over 200 years old. The Octagon does not charge admission, and you can tour three...More

The house is a self-guided tour and there isn't that much furniture in it, however you learn a lot about historic preservation and what they have found by peeling back layers of paint etc. As a presidential buff, I wanted to see this as Pres....More

The Octagon House is open just a few hours daily Thursday to Saturday, but well worth planning a stop to visit the beautiful home. House touring is self guided, but a map and printed information in each room help reveal the story of the home...More

Although it is called the Octagon House its configuration is more complex than that. A self guided tour takes you through the house explaining each room as you go. It isn't crowded so you have time to explore on your own. You can learn about...More