Designed by George Hadfield (1763-1826), the Marine Corps Commandant’s House is the only original building on the complex. This white-painted, Flemish-bonded brick residence has served as the home of the Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps since its construction in 1801. A building of the larger complex, the Marine barracks served as the Marine Corps Headquarters from 1801 to 1901. Here, recruits and officers trained and strategized for war. Troops quartered at the Barracks played significant roles in the wars with the Barbary pirates, the War of 1812, the Seminole War, the capture of John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, and the conquest of Cuba in the Spanish-American War. In particular, when the British captured the Marine barracks in the War of 1812, they refrained from burning the barracks and the Commandant’s house out of respect for the Marines’ bravery at the Battle of Bladensburg (1814).
Over the years, the house has undergone several renovations and received several additions. Today, one of the most striking features of the Commandant’s House is its mansard roof, the tiles of which are regularly laid except for four center rows that display a detailed pattern. The interior decor of the house changes with each occupant. Air conditioning, electric lighting, and other modern conveniences have been added as well.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: August 14, 1973
National Historic Landmark: May 11, 1976
Within Marine Barracks and Capitol Hill Historic Districts
]]>The Van Ness Mausoleum, designed by George Hadfield circa 1833, stands on one of the terraced hills of Georgetown's Oak Hill Cemetery. The family mausoleum was constructed for John Peter Van Ness, his wife Marcia Burnes Van Ness, their daughter, and their granddaughter.
Both the Van Ness family and George Hadfield were significant to the early history and development of Washington. John Van Ness was active in local politics and finance, and Marcia Van Ness devoted much of her life to working for charitable institutions. Hadfield was one of the first professional architects to practice in this country. His interpretation of classical prototypes for his design of the Van Ness Mausoleum resulted in one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in DC.
Hadfield's design for this circular classical temple incorporates the Greek Doric order and Roman elements and was inspired by the Romantic Classical Revival movement that dominated American architecture during the first half of the nineteenth century. The mausoleum originally stood on the south side of H Street NW, between 9th and 10th streets. It was moved to its present site in Oak Hill Cemetery in late 1872 or early 1873.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: December 17, 1982
Within Georgetown Historic District
]]>The first building constructed by the federal government for Washington, DC, the Old City Hall began construction in 1820, after designs by architect George Hadfield. Construction proceeded fitfully due to the chronic underfunding of the local government—a financial situation represented in the building's economical brick-and-stucco construction, which contrasts with the major federal buildings nearby, which were made of stone. The central section was complete and occupied by the mayor and registrar by 1822, and the east wing followed in 1826, but the west wing was not complete until 1849.
While construction continued, parts of the building were leased out to various tenants, including the U.S. Circuit Court and the Recorder of Deeds office, which at the time was led by noted African American abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass. Prior to the Civil War, trials of abolitionists and Underground Railroad workers occurred in this building.
In 1863, the federal government purchased the building from the DC government for use by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. The building was occupied for several decades by federal courts before being abandoned in 1910, with renovations taking place between 1916 and 1918. From 1922 and 1952, the building became the U.S. Courthouse; when the federal courts moved out, the building became the headquarters of the Selective Service System.
Shortly after being named a National Historic Landmark in 1960, the building was returned to the DC government. It currently houses the DC Court of Appeals.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: October 15, 1966
National Historic Landmark: December 19, 1960
]]>