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Old Stone House To Close For A Year

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Published Date

October 24, 2017

It's stood for more than 250 years, so it's not surprising that the Old Stone House in Washington, D.C., needs a little TLC. So, on October 30 the building will close for about a year so crews can install a fire suppression system as well as do some structural rehabilitation.

To prepare for the work, through October 29 hours for the Old Stone House will be 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. During these hours, a ranger will be onsite to share the fascinating story of the house through photos. 

Highlights of the work include: stabilizing the foundation; fixing exterior stone work; installing a new fire detection and prevention system; and upgrading the heating, ventilation, air condition (HVAC), plumbing and electrical systems. Museum collection items have been relocated to a climate-controlled facility and will be returned when construction is complete. 

The Old Stone House, constructed around 1765, is one of the oldest buildings in Washington, D.C. The desire to honor and remember George Washington combined with fuzzy memories led to the Old Stone House’s preservation, while so much changed around it. People believed the Old Stone House to be the location of an inn—Suter’s Tavern, named after its owner, John Suter—where George Washington and city planner Pierre L'Enfant stayed when they met to survey the newly-established District of Columbia. In reality, Washington and L'Enfant stayed in Georgetown’s Fountain Inn at 31st and K Streets NW.

In the (now) Old Stone House, located on Bridge Street (now M Street NW), John Suter’s son, John, Jr., ran a clock shop. The two men with the same name and two nearby locations led to the case of mistaken identity. 

The house was the site of a car dealership when the federal government purchased the property in 1953. The National Park Service opened the house to the public in 1960. Today, the house is a rare example of pre-Revolutionary architecture. A clock built by one-time owner John Suter, Jr., is part of the Old Stone House furnishings. 

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