Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Hilltop Legacy
High on a hill in Northwest D.C. sits the Woodley Mansion, a Federal-style home constructed in 1801. For a long time, this area was a favorite summer retreat for Washingtonians lo…
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High on a hill in Northwest D.C. sits the Woodley Mansion, a Federal-style home constructed in 1801. For a long time, this area was a favorite summer retreat for Washingtonians looking to escape the heat and bustle of the city.
The mansion itself has a storied guest list, having served as a home for Grover Cleveland, Martin Van Buren, and Henry L. Stimson. Stimson lived here well into his later years, even after donating the property to Phillips Academy in 1938.
Eventually, in 1950, the estate was sold to the private Maret School, which moved onto the campus two years later. The mansion was so influential that it gave its name to the surrounding neighborhood and the nearby Woodley Road. It's a quiet piece of the city's early elite history, now echoing with the sounds of students.
Updated June 2026