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All the United States Washington, D.C. International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star
AO Edited

International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star

Obscure Freemasons still live in D.C.’s largest private residence.

Washington, D.C.

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Elliot Carter
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International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star.   Elliot Carter
One of the many reception rooms.   Elliot Carter
Detail of entryway   iandeppmann / Atlas Obscura User
International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star.   Elliot Carter
Symbol of the Order of the Eastern Star on the fence outside   MrTinDC / CC BY-ND 2.0
They have a piece of sandstone taken from the White House.   Elliot Carter
The ceremonial entrance on the ground floor.   Elliot Carter
  iandeppmann / Atlas Obscura User
Belmont’s study.   Elliot Carter
View back down the front stairway.   Elliot Carter
They have a private patio on the roof of the carriage port.   Elliot Carter
International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star.   Elliot Carter
Gold, mirrors, and expensive artwork abound throughout the house.   Elliot Carter
Front yard   teddrake / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The block-long beaux arts facade of the historic Perry Belmont Mansion could easily be mistaken for a European palace or a Gilded Age library. And given its location in the embassy-dense Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington, D.C., most people assume it houses some wealthy diplomatic office, perhaps hailing from Switzerland, or the court of King Louis XIV. The truth about its past is far more unexpected.

The house was built as a second residence by wealthy congressman Perry Belmont in 1909 for a cool $500,000 (more than $12 million in 2016 dollars). Contemporary reporters noted the 55,000-square-foot structure made the White House look tiny. But Belmont lost much of his wealth in the stock market crash of 1929 and was forced to sell his palatial D.C. abode at a ruinous loss and retire from the gilded social scene.

The Order of the Eastern Star is the Ladies origination of Freemasonry. They purchased the monumental house during the Great Depression for a bargain of $100,000. The Perry Belmont House is now the International Headquarters of the OES. It is open to the public but they request you call first.

The OES once counted 500,000 worldwide members, but fraternal orders diminished in popularity decades ago. Now, the group has fewer than 15,000 members.

Related Tags

Mansions Secret Society Masonic Temples Masons History Architecture

Know Before You Go

You can tour the International Headquarters/Perry Belmont House. However, please call in advance and they will try to accommodate. The tour number is 202-667-4737.

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Added By

Elliot Carter

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MrCarl, teddrake, Michelle Cassidy, iandeppmann

  • MrCarl
  • teddrake
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • iandeppmann

Published

November 14, 2017

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  • https://easternstar.org/contact/location/
International Temple of the Order of the Eastern Star
1618 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, District of Columbia
United States
38.912293, -77.041329
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