Anderson House

Anderson House, a 1905 Beaux Arts mansion built as the winter residence of Larz Anderson, an American ambassador, and his wife, Isabel, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the history and magnificence of Gilded Age Washington. The mansion, which was designed by the Boston architectural firm Arthur Little Herbert Browne, was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1996. The Andersons' Washington residence was designed largely for entertaining guests. From 1905 until 1937, they held a variety of events including diplomatic and inaugural receptions, formal dinners and luncheons, and musical performances. Anderson House has been host to some of the world's most important leaders and intellectuals, including William H. Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and Winston Churchill, as well as other notable figures from the United States and beyond. A collection of Asian ivories and lacquerware, as well as screens and sculptures, have been collected by Larz and Isabel during their many travels around the world. English paintings hang on the walls, as do French and Flemish tapestries. The transfer of Anderson House and much of its original furnishings to The Society of the Cincinnati, a patriotic organization of which Larz Anderson had been a committed member, was orchestrated by Isabel Anderson after Larz’s death in 1937. The Society for the Preservation of the American Revolution was founded in 1783 by George Washington and other leaders of the Continental Army and is today a non-profit historical organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the American Revolution. There are free guided tours, a changing exhibition gallery, a research library, and a variety of public programs available at Anderson House.