This week, the venerable Prospect House in Washington D.C. was listed for sale, tagged at $15.995 million. This residence, established over two centuries ago, ranks among the city’s most ancient dwellings.
Nestled at 3508 Prospect St. NW in the heart of Georgetown, this 18th-century dwelling boasts a rich narrative, recognized by D.C. Historic Sites as a landmark of significant historical and architectural value. Constructed in the late 1700s, the original land for Prospect House was acquired by Revolutionary War luminary General James McCubbin Lingan for 250 pounds. General Lingan’s legacy includes being a foundational figure in the creation of the District of Columbia. The architectural plans were conceived by William Thornton, the mind behind the U.S. Capitol Building’s design.
The 9,000-square-foot estate has been visited by multiple U.S. presidents including George Washington and John Adams, and other prolific figures like the Marquis de Lafayette, the Shah of Iran, the President of France, and the poet Robert Frost. It was also briefly used as the White House guest house during the Truman Administration while Blair House was under renovation, and was home to the first U.S. Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal.
The freestanding, red brick townhouse has been meticulously restored to showcase its history. The Library of Congress notes that it has undergone renovation multiple times since its initial construction in 1850, 1861, and 1951. According to D.C. Historic Sites, the townhouse was substantially Victorianized in the 19th century but has since been restored to its former glory. The current owners have maintained and improved the house by replacing the roof, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems, and rebuilt all of the home’s windows, according to the listing on Washington Fine Properties.
The home boasts 12-foot ceilings, eight bedrooms, six baths, a formal entrance hall, a double-parlor living room with twin Adams fireplaces, a banquet-sized dining room, an eat-in kitchen, a gallery hall, a library, and a home office. Situated on a hill overlooking the Potomac River, the bay windows in the living room and several of the bedrooms overlook the water and a formal English Garden. The exterior also features a 41-foot swimming pool, a three-car garage, and an “octagonal watch tower where one of the earliest owners watched his merchant ships come into Georgetown Harbor,” according to the listing.
The current owner, who acquired the property in 1981, is represented by sales associate Kim Gibson and realtor Eileen McGrath of Washington Fine Properties. The nearly $16 million price point narrowly tops the sale of a similar Georgetown mansion in October of last year, which went for $15 million at auction. That home had a similarly deep Washington D.C. history, as it was Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ residence after President John F. Kennedy’s death. Prospect House’s age sets it far apart from most of the homes in the Georgetown area, even the historic ones. Its authenticity and importance to the local community increase both the price and interest in owning the property.
