The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is pleased to recognize the Mansion on O Street in Northwest Washington as the November 2014 One City Location of the Month. The 30,000 square foot space includes more than 100 rooms offering uniquely themed guest rooms and suites, special event galleries, the O Street Museum, and a conference center. The hotel is noted for its unconventional interior styling of various architectural, artistic and design periods, which includes secret maze-like passageways, hidden doors, and themed rooms such as a two-story log cabin, a safari room and an art deco penthouse.
The building, which is located in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood in Northwest Washington, was originally designed in 1892 by the architect of the Capitol Edward Clark as a cluster of three row houses. As one of the last architects working on the US Capitol between the 19th & 20th century, Clark incorporated left over tiles and wood from the Capitol into the home. Rich in detail, these items and detailed woodworking can still be found there today. A testament to the fine craftsmanship, it is believed to be the last, virtually intact, private residence of that period in the District.
In the 1930’s, the home was converted into three separate rooming houses for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s then Director J. Edgar Hoover’s G-men. In 1980, H.H. Leonards purchased the first row house in the series of connected brownstones. After renovating the townhouse she opened it to the public as an events venue, hotel and private club. She designed and built a new brownstone and subsequently acquired three adjacent row houses, each incorporated into the single property by the mid 90’s.
In 1998, Leonards opened the O Street Museum, which includes over 50 signed guitars, art, sculpture, music, memorabilia and written manuscripts in the collection. The museum hosts concerts, book signing talks, film screenings and tours throughout the year. Additionally, all the furnishings, fixtures and decorative items within the rooms can be purchased to support their Artist-in-Residence program.
The Mansion has developed a reputation for privacy, exclusivity and distinctive amenities attracting high-profile clientele over the years that include heads of state, writers, foreign dignitaries, business leaders, artists, musicians, scientists, and members of the entertainment industry. Every former President since Teddy Roosevelt has visited The Mansion and civil rights heroine Mrs. Rosa Parks called the Mansion her home for more than ten years.
The Mansion also has been featured in a number of television shows that include the Travel Channel’s Mega Mansions, WETA’s Breakfast in DC, and MCM TV’s Spice Your Life.
In 2011, the DC Film Office launched One City Location of the Month to bring attention to the wide range of varied, cinematically compelling locations that are available to film and television productions. Former One City Location of the Month recipients include the Warner Theater in Northwest, THEARC in Southeast, the Brookland neighborhood in Northeast, and East Potomac Park in Southwest.
To learn more about the Mansion and O Street Museum and to view photos, please visit the One City Location of the Month feature on our website. If you are interested in using the Mansion as a future filming location, please contact us at [email protected].