Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Dumbarton Oaks
AO Edited

Dumbarton Oaks

The Byzantine, pre-Columbian, and medieval art at this stately mansion are some of the most under-appreciated collections in D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Joshua Sack
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Orangery.   Elvert Barnes
  Elliot Carter
Pre-Columbian gallery.   Dumbarton Oaks/Used With Permission
Mosaic Room.   Dumbarton Oaks/Used With Permission
Rare book reading room.   Dumbarton Oaks/Used With Permission
  Elliot Carter
  DC Gardens / CC BY 2.0
  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
  IgFan / Atlas Obscura User
Arbor Terrace fountain.   F Delventhal
  Elliot Carter
Orangery of Dumbarton Oaks.   DC Gardens
  DC Gardens / CC BY 2.0
  DC Gardens / CC BY 2.0
  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
  Elliot Carter
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This stunning estate with sprawling formal gardens wouldn’t look out of place in one of the grand old European capitals. Instead, the opulent brick-walled property sits on the hills above Washington, D.C., now housing a Harvard research library and one of the most under-appreciated museum collections in town.

If you’ve heard of Dumbarton Oaks before it is likely vis-a-vis its connection with the 1944 conference that lead to the formation of the United Nations. For 47 days during the end stages of World War II, allied diplomats hashed out postwar objectives and rifle-toting guards patrolled the grounds.

Today the estate has traded geopolitical conflict for academics and the arts. The Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and collection holds stunning exhibitions of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, a collection of medieval and Renaissance art and furniture, and an immaculately landscaped garden. The original mansion has been expanded with several new wings, and each section has its own distinct design.

The Byzantine art is housed in a Greek-inspired space complete with columns and mosaics; the pre-Columbian work in an elegantly finished modern space full of glass and light; and the medieval and Renaissance work is in a display space that was a part of the original residence.

The land that Dumbarton Oaks sits on was once part of the Rock of Dumbarton grant that Queen Anne made to Ninian Beall in 1701. Around a century later, the first house was built on the property, and it was greatly expanded and renamed The Oaks in the middle of the 19th century. Among The Oaks’ notable residents was Vice President John C. Calhoun, who actually lived in the house during his first term in office.

In 1920, Mildred and Robert Wood Bliss bought the property, and christened it Dumbarton Oaks in reference to its two historic names. According to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, the design of the estate's gardens "is the result of a decades-long partnership between landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand and her client, Mildred Bliss." Farrand, a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, took inspiration from Italian Renaissance gardens while designing terraced flower gardens that transitioned into a more naturalistic landscape.

The Bliss family gradually expanded the property to the 54 acres it occupies today. They also collected the artwork on display today, and donated the upper 16 acres to Harvard University upon their deaths.

Related Tags

Art Museum Art History Politics Government Museums And Collections Museums

Know Before You Go

The museum and gardens are open to the public Tuesday - Sunday.

Community Contributors

Added By

Joshua Sack

Edited By

horticulturcat, Elliot Carter, Michelle Cassidy, IgFan

  • horticulturcat
  • Elliot Carter
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • IgFan

Published

July 12, 2017

Updated

March 22, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.tclf.org/sites/default/files/microsites/landslide2020/dumbarton-oaks.html
  • https://www.doaks.org/resources/philip-johnson/last-concerns-installation-of-the-collection-landscaping-and-201cthe-acoustical-problem201d
Dumbarton Oaks
1703 32nd Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia
United States
38.91418, -77.063866
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Dumbarton Oaks Birthing Figure

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Tudor Place

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Nearby Places

Dumbarton Oaks Birthing Figure

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Tudor Place

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Related Stories and Lists

12 Places to See the Work of Women Architects

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • Drawers of samples of dried paint on glass slides.

    Washington, D.C.

    The National Gallery's Art Materials Collection

    The institution is sitting on a goldmine of 21,000 paints, varnishes, pigments, and primers preserved for posterity.

  • In addition to over 1,300 works of art, the Monhegan Museum shares its location with a historic lighthouse.

    Monhegan, Maine

    Monhegan Museum of Art & History

    This remote museum highlights the island’s impressive creative legacy.

  • Rutherford B. Hayes exhibit

    Villa Hayes, Paraguay

    Museo Municipal de Villa Hayes

    How did 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes become so beloved in Paraguay?

  • The French Shore Interpretation Centre

    Conche, Newfoundland and Labrador

    French Shore Interpretation Centre

    A small museum in Newfoundland is home to a 227-foot tapestry that preserves the remote region's colorful history.

  • Cordell Hull Birthplace Museum.

    Byrdstown, Tennessee

    Cordell Hull Birthplace Museum

    The longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize winner was born in this humble cabin.

  • The museum entrance.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Museo Dolores Olmedo

    This extraordinary art museum is like a secret world on the edge of Mexico City.

  • Tobacco boxes

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Franz Mayer Museum Silver Collection

    A shining treasure trove of fine Mexican silver dating back to the 15th century.

  • Museu de Arte de São Paulo

    São Paulo, Brazil

    Museu de Arte de São Paulo

    This singular art museum in São Paulo is unique inside and out.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.