Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Retreat in the City
In the nineteenth century, Washingtonians didn't always stay downtown during the sweltering summer months. Instead, they headed to Woodley Park, which served as a historic summer…
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In the nineteenth century, Washingtonians didn't always stay downtown during the sweltering summer months. Instead, they headed to Woodley Park, which served as a historic summer retreat. At the center of this escape was the Woodley Mansion, a Federal-style hilltop house built in 1801.
Over the years, it hosted some of the biggest names in American politics, including Grover Cleveland and Martin Van Buren. Eventually, the mansion transitioned from a political sanctuary to an educational one, being sold to the Maret School in 1950. It stands as a reminder of a time when the city's social identity was defined by seasonal migrations to the cooler hills of the northwest.
Updated June 2026