Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Presidential Refuge
In 1800, the Octagon House stood as one of the grandest townhouses in the young United States. Built for John Tayloe the Third, this late Federalist masterpiece is famous for its…
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In 1800, the Octagon House stood as one of the grandest townhouses in the young United States. Built for John Tayloe the Third, this late Federalist masterpiece is famous for its imported Coade stone decorative elements from England. But its most dramatic chapter came in 1814.
After the British burned the White House, President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison used this house as their temporary home. It was a place of recovery and governance during a time of national crisis. Since 1899, the American Institute of Architects has cared for the property, and it's been a National Historic Landmark since 1960.
Walking past its unique eight-sided shape, you're seeing the site where the presidency survived its darkest hour.
Updated June 2026