Thomas T. Gaff House

Coordinates: 38°54′39″N 77°02′43″W / 38.910952°N 77.045187°W / 38.910952; -77.045187
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For Thomas Gaff House, the mansion in Indiana, see Hillforest.
Thomas T. Gaff House
Dupont Circle Historic District (ID78003056)
Designated CPJuly 21, 1978[1]

The Thomas T. Gaff House is the

Dupont Circle and one block from Massachusetts Avenue's Embassy Row.[2]

Its architecture was inspired by the Château Balleroy in Normandy, France, and features a hidden ballroom and a mix of 18th- and 19th-century interior designs.[3]

The house has been home to a wealthy

Cabinet, a Greek ambassador, and a former President of Colombia.[2][4]

History

Thomas T. Gaff was a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in the distillery and heavy machinery business in

Clarence Moore House, Andrew Mellon Building, and the ambassador residences of Portugal, France, and Luxembourg.[2] Construction of the house lasted from 1904 to 1905.[7]

The Gaff House was well known in Washington, D.C.'s high society; tea parties and other events were mentioned in

property value of the Gaff House is $8,061,440.[10]

Architecture

Drawing designs by de Sibour of the Thomas T. Gaff House

The exterior architecture of the Thomas T. Gaff House is an example of a 17th-century

Louis XIII-style oak panelling. The drawing room resembles 18th-century interior design with lighter wood used for panelling and basic geometric lines.[2][6]

In the sitting room, a hidden, movable wooden wall reveals the two-story Edwardian ballroom, which features a multivaulted wooden ceiling and ornamental plasterwork. The wood that covers the ceiling was discovered during a repair operation. A dome with a stained-glass cupola is located above the center of the ballroom. This room is used for charity balls, formal dinners, and as a gallery and concert hall.[2][3][6]

There were originally 220 drawings of the house's design by de Sibour, but only 20 survived.[7]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Thomas T. Gaff House". embassy.org. 1997-08-26. Archived from the original on 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  3. ^ a b "Kalorama House and Embassy Tour sets the Table for the Presidential Dish". National Trust for Historic Preservation. 2007-09-16. Archived from the original on 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  4. ^ a b Wilkie, Christina. "At Home with The Pastranas". Washington Life Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  5. ^ "History of Hillforest". hillforest.org. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8214-1759-1
    .
  7. ^ a b Scott, Pamela. "Residential Architecture of Washington, D.C., and Its Suburbs". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  8. ^ "Social Life in Washington – Mr. and Mrs. Peter Goelet Gerry Are Hosts at a Dinner Dance". The New York Times. 1914-12-23. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  9. ^ "Colombia - Country Specific Information". United States Department of State. 2007-06-21. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  10. ^ "Property Detail". Government of the District of Columbia. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  11. ^ "Dupont Circle Historic District". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-06-04.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas T. Gaff House.

38°54′39″N 77°02′43″W / 38.910952°N 77.045187°W / 38.910952; -77.045187

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