The Inter-American Defense Board headquarters, located at 2600 16th Street NW, is a monumental Venetian Gothic Revival style building constructed in 1905 as part of socialite and developer Mary Foote Henderson’s (1841-1931) plan to create a grand entrance into the nation’s capital along 16th Street, which terminates at Lafayette Square and the White House. Constructed to the plans of noted local architect George Oakley Totten Jr. (1866-1939), it stands as one of DC’s most interesting and elegant residential structures.
When Delia Field (Mrs. Marshall Field) became the owner of the house between 1912 and 1914, she made numerous and expensive alterations, all within a period of seven years. At some point, the mansion was painted pink, earning the moniker “Pink Palace.” However, according to the Inter-American Defense Board who has owned the building since 1945, beige was the original paint color. The residence was later painted pink and, at one point, blue. Today, the “Pink Palace” is beige once again.
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964 (Joint Committee on Landmarks)
National Register: August 5, 1991
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