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40-751: Lafayette Square and St. John's Episcopal Church , also known as the Church of the Presidents, are located across the street. The hotel is a contributing property to the Lafayette Square Historic District and Sixteenth Street Historic District and is also a member of the Historic Hotels of America . The hotel occupies the site where the 1885 homes of John Hay and Henry Adams once stood, at 16th and H Streets NW. In 1927, Washington developer Harry Wardman bought

80-649: A crack cocaine purchase in Lafayette Park prior to US President George H. W. Bush 's delivery of a national address that was part of his ongoing effort against drug abuse . Thomas and Concepcion Picciotto are founders of the White House Peace Vigil , which is the longest running anti-nuclear peace vigil in U.S. history, at Lafayette Square. On June 1, 2020, amid mass protests in Washington, DC and nationally , which followed

120-685: A Washington real estate company, in 2006, for $ 100 million. President Obama and his family stayed in the Hay–Adams for two weeks before his inauguration because the Blair House was occupied. Frank Underwood , the main protagonist in the House of Cards television series, stayed in this hotel after resigning the Office of President of the United States until his death in 2017 The Hay–Adams

160-492: A display of police aggression against a largely peaceful crowd. The act, carried out by U.S. Park Police , Arlington County police , Federal Bureau of Prisons officers, and Secret Service officers, was condemned by critics as a violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of assembly . Bureau of Prison officials fired pepper spray munitions, contrary to the instructions of Park Police leadership. Although

200-630: A full seven minutes before any dispersal order was given by the Park Police. The Secret Service apologized for this incident but the OIG for the Department of the Interior and the OIG for the Department of Homeland Security declined to investigate their actions. Similarly, the Park Police also deployed prior to completing dispersal orders. Park Police did not explain why the operation began before

240-1032: A meeting in the house to deal with the anthracite coal strike occurring in Pennsylvania . The townhouse was bought in 1919 by the Women's City Club of Washington, which remained there until 1944. The house was then sold to the National Lutheran Council and the United Lutheran Church in America . Today it houses the United States Digital Service . 740–744 Jackson Place is home to the White House Historical Association . Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed

280-420: A widely announced curfew as requested by DC Police. The OIG report further stated that the Park Police's orders to disperse were not heard by all of the crowd and were generally ineffective. The OIG report stated that the evidence obtained by the OIG concerning Park Police "did not support a finding" that Trump's visit was the reason why the park was cleared. The OIG report concluded that the decision to clear

320-662: Is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and used as a museum by the White House Historical Association . The Ewell House, since demolished, was built on Jackson Place in 1819 for Dr. Thomas Ewell, who was a physician in the city, and author of a popular medical book, The History of the Medical Society . For health reasons Ewell left Jackson Place and returned to a farm in Prince William County, Virginia , and subsequently leased

360-699: Is part of the Homeland Security Department . Interior OIG investigators did not interview Secret Service or White House personnel. As a result, the OIG report stated that OIG "cannot assess whether" Barr's visit to the park or any planned movement by Trump "influenced the Secret Service's actions, including its early deployment on to H Street." In 2020, Joseph V. Cuffari , the DHS Inspector General , blocked recommendations from his staff to conduct an investigation into

400-532: Is said to be haunted by Henry Adams 's beloved wife, "Clover" ( Marian Hooper Adams ), who committed suicide on this site in 1885, before the hotel was built. Her spirit is said to be walking the floors, trailed by the scent of almond. Potassium cyanide, the home darkroom chemical she ingested, smells like almonds. The AAA gave the hotel four diamonds out of five in 1984. The hotel has maintained that rating every year, and received four diamonds again for 2016. Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Guide) awarded

440-844: The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which merged with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO , after originally breaking out of the AFL in 1935. As of 2008, the federal government owns this building and houses small units attached to the Executive Office of the President . The building at 722 Jackson Place was once the headquarters of the National Woman's Party (NWP) during

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480-682: The Council on Environmental Quality . 734 Jackson Place, a National Historic Landmark , served as the headquarters of the American Peace Society between 1911 and 1946. In the 1970s it was combined with an adjacent building to house the offices of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission . 736 Jackson Place was originally built around 1870 for Cornelia Knower Marcy, the widow of Secretary of War William Learned Marcy . In

520-461: The D.C. Metropolitan Police was not involved in the initial advance of police against the crowd, MPD officers fired tear gas at demonstrators as they moved away from the park toward 17th Street. A report by the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Inspector General (OIG), released in June 2021, was limited to examining the Park Police under its jurisdiction. It concluded that the Park Police action

560-623: The Decatur House , located at 748 Jackson Place. Completed in 1818 for naval hero Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan, its distinguished neo-classical architecture and prominent location across from the White House made Decatur House one of the capital's most desirable addresses and home of many of the nation's most prominent figures. Later residents included Henry Clay , Martin Van Buren , and Judah P. Benjamin . The Decatur House

600-475: The Great Depression era, and her former home became an office building. Today's plan for the park dates from the 1930s. The park has five large statues. In the center stands Clark Mills ' equestrian statue of President Andrew Jackson , erected in 1853; it is the first bronze statue cast in the United States. In the four corners are statues of foreign Revolutionary War heroes: Lafayette Square

640-762: The Treasury Building and grounds. In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson had Pennsylvania Avenue cut through the park and separated what would become Lafayette Square from the White House grounds. In 1824, that north side square including the park was officially renamed in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette , the French general whose involvement was indispensable in securing victory in the American Revolutionary War . Named in honor of

680-461: The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis ; Lafayette Square and surrounding city streets were forcefully evicted of protesters , reporters, and clergy by police in riot gear using tear gas and clubbing them with batons. A day after the incident, a DOJ official said that U.S. Attorney General William Barr had personally ordered the park and surrounding areas to be cleared which resulted in

720-547: The 1880s, Michigan Representative John Newberry and Senator James Blaine lived in the house. In 1887, Representative William Scott bought the house. The house was remodeled in 1895 by Carrere and Hastings. The townhouse served as temporary quarters for President Theodore Roosevelt and his staff, while the White House underwent renovations from June 25 to November 6, 1902. Known then as No. 22 Jackson Place, Roosevelt only stayed there briefly, before heading off to Oyster Bay , New York . On October 3, 1902, Roosevelt held

760-407: The Secret Service's actions in the clearing of Lafayette Square. On June 22, 2020, demonstrators attempted to tear down the statue of Andrew Jackson at the center of the square. Following this incident, Lafayette Square was closed to the public. It was reopened on May 10, 2021. Jackson Place Jackson Place is a Washington, D.C. street located across from the White House and forming

800-507: The corner with Pennsylvania Avenue, was built in 1860. Physician Peter Parker was an early resident. It housed the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for several decades, up until the late 1960s. In the 1980s, it was combined with Blair House . 704 Jackson Place was combined with Blair House in the 1980s. 708 Jackson Place was built in 1859 for William P. Trowbridge . It has been used as federal office space since

840-593: The depression he sought to increase his holdings in Washington, D.C., which he felt was a safe investment. He also purchased the Annapolis and Hamilton hotels in Washington. Manger resided at the Hay-Adams until his death in March 1937. At the time of his death, Manger was the largest independent hotel operator in the United States. The Manger family sold the hotel to Washington developer Sheldon Magazine in 1973, and it

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880-492: The early 1900s. It is being added to the Blair House complex. In about 1951 it became the meeting place for the Psychological Strategy Board . 712 Jackson Place was built in 1869 for Admiral James Blair , but was soon sold to Henry Rathbone . Rathbone is known for accompanying President Abraham Lincoln to Ford's Theatre on the night of the assassination. During World War I , the building

920-580: The early and mid-19th century, the buildings around the square included the homes of Washington's most prominent residents, including William Wilson Corcoran , Martin van Buren , Henry Clay , Dolley Madison , John Hay , and Henry Adams . In 1851, Andrew Jackson Downing was commissioned by President Millard Fillmore to landscape Lafayette Square in the picturesque style. On February 27, 1859, US Representative Daniel Sickles killed Philip Barton Key II in Lafayette Square. Key had come to

960-401: The east and Pennsylvania Avenue on the south. It is named for the general, the Marquis de Lafayette , a French aristocrat, and hero of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and includes several statues of revolutionary heroes from Europe, including Lafayette, while at its center is a famous statue of early 19th century U.S. president and general Andrew Jackson on horseback with both of

1000-617: The horse's front hooves raised. Lafayette Square and the surrounding structures were designated the Lafayette Square Historic District in 1970. Planned by Pierre L'Enfant as part of the pleasure grounds surrounding the Executive Mansion, the square is part of President's Park , which is the larger National Park Service unit that also includes the White House grounds, The Ellipse , the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and grounds and

1040-514: The hotel four out of five stars as well in 2016. The Hay–Adams' slogan is "Where nothing is overlooked but the White House." Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square is a seven-acre (28,327 m ) public park located within President's Park in Washington, D.C. , directly north of the White House on H Street , bounded by Jackson Place on the west, Madison Place on

1080-851: The hotel's loans, and it was sold at public auction to the Washington Loan and Trust Company. Hotel magnate Julius Manger purchased the property in 1932 and renamed it the Manger Hay–Adams Hotel . He converted it to a transient hotel, remodeling the guest rooms and adding central air-conditioning. Manger owned 18 hotels in New York City, the Hotel Plaza in Chicago, and the Hotel Manger at North Station in Boston. During

1120-502: The land to John Knower. In 1957, the Federal government acquired the townhouses on Jackson Place. The government had plans to demolish the buildings to make way for construction of a new Federal office building on the land. In 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy intervened and the project was canceled. The block is lined by several townhouses constructed in the late 19th century. The Peter Parker House (700 Jackson Place), at

1160-420: The late 1950s, it became the "Presidential Townhouse" in 1969 by President Richard Nixon . The furnishings were very sparse until it was refurbished using private funds by President George W. Bush . The five-story building includes two dining rooms, multiple bedrooms, and space for a Secret Service detail in the basement. 718 Jackson Place NW, Washington, D.C. , was the fourth and final headquarters for

1200-492: The naval war hero Commodore Steven Decatur, the Decatur House borders Lafayette Square. Used for slave trading, the house remains as one of few surviving examples of an urban slave market. The land on what is now Lafayette Square was formerly used at various times as "a racetrack, a graveyard, a zoo, a slave market , an encampment for soldiers during the War of 1812 , and the site of many political protests and celebrations." In

1240-466: The park for an affair with Sickles's wife, only to be discovered and killed by Sickles. In the 20th century, the area around the square became less residential, with buildings increasingly occupied by offices and professional groups, especially in the 1920s, and the construction of the Treasury Annex . The last resident, Mary Chase Morris of the O'Toole House ( 730 Jackson Place ), died during

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1280-486: The park was lawful and consistent with Interior's policy, but made no conclusions on whether the decision to clear the park was a good decision, nor did the OIG report make any conclusions about whether the police use of force was appropriate. The OIG report focused on the role of Park Police (which is part of the Interior Department), and not on the role of other agencies, such as the Secret Service, which

1320-536: The park. The squirrels' large numbers were sustained because the public overfed the squirrels and also because nestboxes had been once been installed and maintained by the National Park Service . In 1985 and 1987, the issue was solved by a project in which the nest boxes were removed and many squirrels were captured and relocated away from Lafayette Square, to Fort Dupont Park and elsewhere. In 1989, Drug Enforcement Administration agents arranged

1360-556: The property, razed the homes, and built a 138-room residential hotel, designed by architect Mihran Mesrobian in the Italian Renaissance style . The hotel opened in 1928 as The Hay–Adams House . Wardman's fortunes declined with the Great Depression , and he was forced to relinquish most of his hotel and apartment building empire in August 1930, with the exception of The Hay–Adams House. Finally, in 1932, Wardman defaulted on

1400-573: The time of the Silent Sentinels , the first ever strategic protest of the White House, which lasted over two years asking for women's suffrage. It was the longtime home of the Council on Environmental Quality . 726 Jackson Place was used as temporary White House Press Briefing Room from August 2006 to July 2007 during renovations to the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room . 730 Jackson Place serves as federal offices. Current tenants include

1440-459: The western border of Lafayette Square between Pennsylvania Avenue and H Street , NW, beginning just south of Connecticut Avenue . Facing the street are mostly 19th century town homes which are now generally used for government offices of other official functions. The block is situated on land once owned by the Decatur family, until 1869 when they sold it to Lorenzo Sherwood, who in turn sold

1480-529: Was a popular cruising spot for gay men until the 1950s Lavender scare . In the 1960s, Lafayette Square became more noted for its use as a protest location. Protests related to nuclear weapons, Israel, and the Vietnam War were held there. In the 1970s, the park was overrun with a large Eastern gray squirrel population, possibly "the highest density of squirrels ever recorded in scientific literature," which eventually destroyed many trees and flowers in

1520-660: Was home to the Committee for Public Information , and for a brief time it housed the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom . It is currently home to the White House Fellows program and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. The building at 716 Jackson Place is owned by the U.S. Government and is reserved for the exclusive use by former Presidents when they are in town. Purchased in

1560-470: Was part of a plan to install "antiscale fencing" and that these plans were made before Barr arrived on the scene at 6:10 p.m. and before Trump walked to the church. However, Park Police commanders could not agree on who gave the order to deploy or explain why radio transmissions were not recorded. The OIG report found that, contrary to the Park Police operational plan, the Secret Service began their operation at 6:16 p.m., soon after Barr arrived and

1600-475: Was renamed The Hay–Adams . Magazine sold the hotel to businessman Jeffrey I. Friedman and French hotelier Georges F. Mosse in 1979 for approximately $ 15 million. Friedman and Mosse sold the hotel to Los Angeles businessman David H. Murdock in 1983 for $ 30 million. Murdock sold the hotel to the Iue Family , founders of Sanyo , in 1989 for $ 54 million. The Iue family sold the hotel to the B. F. Saul Company ,

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