Harewood Lodge – Washington, D.C. - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Harewood Lodge

Washington, D.C.

One of the first Second Empire-style buildings constructed in North America.  

View all photos
52
95
Top Places in Washington, D.C.
The Hecht Company Warehouse saw prosperous days throughout the 1950s. (Library of Congress)
Hecht Company Warehouse
Washington, D.C.
Abandoned Drawbridge Control Room
Washington, D.C.
The Sun Building
Washington, D.C.
 See All

Harewood Lodge was the gatehouse and porter’s lodge for the 191-acre country farm and estate of William Wilson Corcoran in rural Washington County. The Lodge was built in 1857 and was home to Corcoran’s gatekeepers, porters, and groundskeepers. Corcoran is known as the founder of Riggs Bank and the Corcoran Art Gallery.

The Lodge, with its distinctive mansard roof, was designed by prominent American architect James Renwick, Jr., who also designed the Smithsonian Castle. Corcoran sold the property to the Soldier’s Home in 1872. A one-story stone wing was added to the lodge between 1879 and 1887.

The Soldiers’ Home sold the property to the Catholic University of America in 2004. The lodge was on the D.C. Preservation League’s list of the most endangered places in 2003, but a landmark nomination saved Harewood Lodge from demolition in 2017.

Know Before You Go

Harewood Lodge sits across Harewood Avenue from the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and there is ample parking nearby. The lodge is in the process of being restored as of July 2021 and sits on private property, but can be viewed from the sidewalk. 

Atlas Obscura Experiences

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.
$42 per person
design history & culture architecture
Nearby
Mary's Garden
0.07 miles
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
0.08 miles
Brooks Mansion
0.45 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
The statue of the Virgin Mary.
Washington, D.C.

Mary's Garden

An overlooked oasis of quiet on the grounds of Washington's monumental basilica.
Outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (ncindc/Flickr)
Washington, D.C.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Largest Roman Catholic church in North America.
Brooks Mansion
Washington, D.C.

Brooks Mansion

This historic building is now home to the Public Access Corporation for the District of Columbia.
Slowe-Burrill House
Washington, D.C.

Slowe-Burrill House

Home to two notable early-20th-century Black educators, Lucy Slowe and Mary Burrill.
Related Places
Mudéjar Thematic Park
Olmedo, Spain

Mudéjar Thematic Park

The best collection of Mudéjar building replicas gathered in a theme park in Olmedo.
St Martin’s Rotunda, Prague
Prague, Czechia

Rotonde Saint-Martin (St Martin’s Rotunda)

The largest and best-preserved rotunda in Prague.
Jankowo, Poland

Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.
Modern Cloisters of Valira Park
La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

This parody of ecclesiastical cloisters features famous figures from the 20th century.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web