Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Presidential Refuge
The Octagon House is a masterpiece of late Federalist architecture, but it's most famous for a moment of crisis. Built in 1799 for Colonel John Tayloe III, it was one of the grand…
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The Octagon House is a masterpiece of late Federalist architecture, but it's most famous for a moment of crisis. Built in 1799 for Colonel John Tayloe III, it was one of the grandest townhouses in the nation. Its most historic chapter came in 1814, when it served as the temporary home for President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison.
At the time, the White House had been burned by the British, leaving the president and first lady in need of a secure place to stay. From a private residence to a presidential refuge, and eventually to a museum and National Historic Landmark, the house has watched the city grow around it for over two hundred years.
Updated June 2026