The Old Stone House

Address:3051, M St., NW
Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 895-6070

Visit one of the oldest known structures remaining in the nation's capital! The Old Stone House will take you back in time and you'll see what life was like for ordinary American citizens during the early days of DC.

Located in historic Georgetown and built in 1765, this Old Stone House is a simple 18th century dwelling built and inhabited by common people. It has become a symbol of everyday life in colonial America. In addition to being a residence, the Old Stone House has also housed a paint store, a clock shop, and even an office for a used-car lot, and is a good surviving example of pre-Revolutionary American vernacular architecture. Today, the exterior of the house is constructed of locally quarried blue granite and five of the house's rooms are furnished with the simple, sturdy furnishings—plain tables, spinning wheels, and so forth—of 18th-century middle-class life. The National Park Service maintains the house and its gardens, which are planted with fruit trees and perennials, with small footpaths through the shrubs and flowers, and an entrance covered by a large weeping willow which blocks out the sounds of the street. Access to the Old Stone House and the gardens is free, so there's no excuse to miss this quaint piece of D.C. history!

From Interstate 495 and Rockville Pike, take exit 34 south onto Rockville Pike (MD-355S). Head into Washington, D.C. for 7.3 miles; eventually Rockville Pike will become Wisconsin Avenue. At the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue NW and M Street NW in Georgetown, turn left and go 1 ½ blocks until you see the Old Stone House on your left, across from Jefferson Street NW.