Museum

Octagon House

📍 1799 New York Avenue NW, between 17th and 18th Streets, Washington, DC 20006, USA

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3.5/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: USA, San Francisco
Category: Museum
Duration: Approx. 45 min - 1 hour
Opening Hours: Monday Closed · Tuesday Closed · Wednesday Closed · Thursday Closed · Friday 11:00-16:00 · Saturday 11:00-16:00 · Sunday Closed · Per the Plan your visit page of operator Architects Foundation (checked 4 November 2026): The Octagon is open Fridays and Saturdays 11:00-16:00, with last admission at 15:00. The same ticket admits a guided tour at 11:00 or 14:00, lasting about 45-50 minutes. From Saturday 12 December 2026 the ticket covers both the historic house and the exhibition Elevating Architects: 75 Years of the AIA College of Fellows. The house is not currently ADA accessible; a full online tour is offered on the site.
Ticket Price: Adult: $10 · Senior: $5: seniors, D.C. residents, college and graduate students, teachers, AIA members and military personnel · Groups of 10 or more and private tours must be arranged at least two weeks ahead by emailing [email protected]; tickets can be booked online on the site.
Address: 1799 New York Avenue NW, between 17th and 18th Streets, Washington, DC 20006, USA
Coordinates: 37.7980, -122.4270

Introduction

Built in 1799 at 1799 New York Avenue NW in downtown Washington, D.C., the Octagon House was designed by William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol, for Virginia planter John Tayloe III, making it one of the earliest homes in the capital. After the British burned the White House in 1814, President James Madison briefly resided here, and documents leading to the 1815 Treaty of Ghent (ending the War of 1812) were signed in the house, earning it the nickname of a temporary presidential residence. Its curved doors and rare built-in closets mark an unusual interior while the Federal facade is distinctive. From 1898 it was AIA headquarters and is now run by the Architects Foundation as a historic house museum.

✨ Highlights

1799 Federal-style octagonal residence designed by architect William Thornton for John Tayloe III

At Octagon House, 1799 Federal-style octagonal residence designed by architect William Thornton for John Tayloe III is one of the most representative experiences of this destination.

Temporary home of President Madison after the 1814 burning of the White House; Treaty of Ghent papers signed here

At Octagon House, Temporary home of President Madison after the 1814 burning of the White House; Treaty of Ghent papers signed here is one of the most representative experiences of this destination.

Unusual interior of curved doors and rare built-in closets

At Octagon House, Unusual interior of curved doors and rare built-in closets is one of the most representative experiences of this destination.

AIA headquarters from 1898; now a museum run by the Architects Foundation

At Octagon House, AIA headquarters from 1898; now a museum run by the Architects Foundation is one of the most representative experiences of this destination.

🛈 Practical Info

→Tours：11:00 and 14:00, about 45-50 minutes, included with admission

→New exhibition：From 12 December 2026 the ticket also covers the AIA College of Fellows 75th-anniversary show

→Access：Not currently ADA accessible; a full online tour is available

→Transportation：Entrance on New York Avenue NW between 17th and 18th Streets, next to the AIA headquarters; telephone (202) 626-7439

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	Closed
Friday	11:00-16:00
Saturday	11:00-16:00
Sunday	Closed

Per the Plan your visit page of operator Architects Foundation (checked 4 November 2026): The Octagon is open Fridays and Saturdays 11:00-16:00, with last admission at 15:00. The same ticket admits a guided tour at 11:00 or 14:00, lasting about 45-50 minutes. From Saturday 12 December 2026 the ticket covers both the historic house and the exhibition Elevating Architects: 75 Years of the AIA College of Fellows. The house is not currently ADA accessible; a full online tour is offered on the site.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	$10
Senior	$5: seniors, D.C. residents, college and graduate students, teachers, AIA members and military personnel
Free Admission	Children and teens under 18 are free

Groups of 10 or more and private tours must be arranged at least two weeks ahead by emailing [email protected]; tickets can be booked online on the site.

💡 Tips

• Opening is limited to Fridays and Saturdays, 11:00-16:00, so the visit has to be planned into one of those windows; last admission is at 15:00.

• One ticket covers self-guided exploring plus the 11:00 or 14:00 guided tour of about 45-50 minutes, so arrive on the hour for commentary.

• From 12 December 2026 the ticket also admits the exhibition Elevating Architects: 75 Years of the AIA College of Fellows.

• The entrance sits on New York Avenue NW between 17th and 18th Streets, next to AIA headquarters, whose exhibitions and self-guided net-zero building tour are worth combining.

• The house is not currently ADA accessible, so visitors using a wheelchair can take the full online tour offered on the site.

• Groups of 10 or more and private tours need booking at least two weeks ahead by email.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Octagon House?

Monday: Closed; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: Closed; Friday: 11:00-16:00; Saturday: 11:00-16:00; Sunday: Closed; Per the Plan your visit page of operator Architects Foundation (checked 4 November 2026): The Octagon is open Fridays and Saturdays 11:00-16:00, with last admission at 15:00. The same ticket admits a guided tour at 11:00 or 14:00, lasting about 45-50 minutes. From Saturday 12 December 2026 the ticket covers both the historic house and the exhibition Elevating Architects: 75 Years of the AIA College of Fellows. The house is not currently ADA accessible; a full online tour is offered on the site.

How much is the admission for Octagon House?

Adult: $10; Senior: $5: seniors, D.C. residents, college and graduate students, teachers, AIA members and military personnel; Free Admission: Children and teens under 18 are free; Groups of 10 or more and private tours must be arranged at least two weeks ahead by emailing [email protected]; tickets can be booked online on the site.

Any practical tips for visiting Octagon House?

Opening is limited to Fridays and Saturdays, 11:00-16:00, so the visit has to be planned into one of those windows; last admission is at 15:00. One ticket covers self-guided exploring plus the 11:00 or 14:00 guided tour of about 45-50 minutes, so arrive on the hour for commentary.

How long should I spend at Octagon House?

A typical visit takes Approx. 45 min - 1 hour.

Details here follow architectsfoundation.org; hours, prices and access change with the season and events, so please check architectsfoundation.org before you go.