The Octagon House

The Octagon House, located in Washington D.C., was built in 1799 by Col. John Tayloe III, one of the wealthiest men in the United States at the time. It was designed by architects Dr. William Thornton and James Hoban, who also designed the White House. The Octagon House was originally built as a townhouse and served as a social and cultural center in the city.

During the War of 1812, the White House was burned by the British, leaving President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison homeless. They sought refuge at the Octagon House and lived there from September 1814 to May 1815. It served as the temporary White House for the Madisons during this time.

In 1820, the Octagon House was sold to Joseph Gales, a prominent journalist and newspaper publisher. Gales lived in the house until his death in 1841 and it was later passed down to his son, also a journalist.

Around 1855, the Octagon House was sold to a group of women who established the Young Ladies' Institute, a school for girls. The school occupied the building until 1911 and during this time, it underwent several renovations and additions to accommodate the needs of the students.

The building was purchased in 1923 by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and served as their headquarters for over 70 years. The AIA made several renovations to the building, including the restoration of its original design.

The Octagon House's three-story brick breaks away from traditional Georgian and Federal architecture: It features a unique design that blends a circle, two rectangles, and a triangle, and boasting elegant and restrained interior and exterior decoration. The decorative elements such as Coade stone, stoves, and furniture were imported from England, while the construction materials including bricks, timber, iron, and Aquia Creek sandstone were locally sourced.

The origin of the name "Octagon" is not clear, but one theory is that it resembles octagonal rooms commonly found in England, which were circular in shape but referred to as "octagon salons" due to their eight walls. Another possibility is that the six walls of the building form eight angles, fitting the definition of an octagon.

Today, the Octagon House is a museum operated by the AIA and is open to the public. It serves as a testament to the rich history of Washington D.C. and its significance as a cultural and political center of the United States. The Octagon House has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and is considered one of the most important historic buildings in the city.