Washington, D.C., District of Columbia / History
Chinese Embassy (former Walsh Mansion)
A historic Gilded Age mansion at 1600 21st Street Northwest, designed by Henry Andersen in 1903 for gold miner Thomas F. Walsh, now serving as the Embassy of Indonesia.
What is the history of the former Walsh Mansion?
Designed in 1903 by Henry Andersen for gold miner Thomas F. Walsh, the house reportedly cost $853,000 to build. Thomas and Carrie Walsh lived there until 1932, and after being used by various government agencies, it was purchased by the Ambassador of Indonesia in 1951 for $335,000.
Where is the former Walsh Mansion located?
It is located at 1600 21st Street Northwest in Washington, D.C., within the city's Embassy Row area.
Is the former Walsh Mansion the Chinese Embassy?
No, the building is identified as the Walsh-McLean House and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia; it is associated with the Embassy of Indonesia rather than the Chinese Embassy.
What should I check before going?
Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.
What to know
The Walsh-McLean House, located at 1600 21st Street Northwest, stands as a testament to Gilded Age opulence. Designed by architect Henry Andersen in 1903 for Thomas F. Walsh, a wealthy gold miner, the mansion was built for the staggering sum of $853,000. This architectural marvel serves as a prime example of the grand residential estates that once defined the neighborhood. Thomas F. Walsh and his wife, Carrie Walsh, lived in this residence until Carrie's death in 1932. For decades, the home transitioned through various government agencies before finding its current diplomatic purpose. In 1951, the Ambassador of Indonesia purchased the mansion for $335,000, transforming it from a private residence into a sovereign diplomatic mission. Today, the building is known as the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. It is situated within Washington, D.C.'s Embassy Row, a high concentration of diplomatic residences and missions. The transition from a private gold-miner's estate to a national embassy reflects the broader pattern of Washington's diplomatic district, where many former mansions were converted into embassies. Visitors can admire the exterior of this historic structure from the sidewalk, observing the scale and detail of Andersen's 1903 design. Its presence on the Dupont Circle neighborhood walking tour highlights its architectural significance in the heart of the city's diplomatic corridor.
Visitor tips
- View the architectural details from the sidewalk as the building is an active diplomatic mission.
- Combine this stop with a walk through the rest of of Embassy Row to see other converted mansions.
- Allow about 15 minutes to take photos of the facade from the public right-of-way.
Nearby context
The Walsh-McLean House is located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, within the concentrated diplomatic corridor known as Embassy Row, where many historic mansions were converted into diplomatic missions.
Sources
Evidence and links
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Chinese Embassy in the United States
Website: http://us.china-embassy.gov.cn
fmprc.gov.cn -
Anson Burlingame Historical Documents
Chinese Embassy in Washington: Their Presentation to the President.
burlingame.org -
Dupont Circle Neighborhood - District Architecture Center
1600 21st Street Northwest
dcarchcenter.org -
Embassy Row
Embassy Row is the informal name for a section of Northwest Washington, DC, with a high concentration of embassies, diplomatic missions, an…
en.wikipedia.org -
Foreign exchange Washingtonians turn former embassy buildings ...
Washingtonians sometimes find home in former embassies, many of which themselves were once mansions.
washingtonpost.com -
Visiting the Embassies of Washington, D.C.
C.C. Pei and L.C. Pei of Pei Partnership Architects designed the building.
manythings.org