Adams Morgan in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Life on the Park
Roads to Diversity
— Adams Morgan Heritage Trail —
The building across Euclid Street once was painted pink and called the Pink Palace. Mrs. Henderson commissioned it as she began creating her elite enclave. It was designed by her favorite architect, George O. Totten, Jr. (you can see the Pink Palace in the cartoon on this sign). An early owner, Delia Field, widow of Chicago department store mogul Marshall Field, entertained the Prince of Wales here in 1919. Architect Totten lived at 2336 16th Street, later home of the Antioch Law School. Totten would design 11 grand houses, including the elegant 2460 16th, first occupied by the French Embassy. Mrs Henderson originally offered Totten’s 2801 16th Street to the U.S. government for a vice president’s residence. The government declined, so Spain took it for its embassy.
At left is Dorchester House, briefly the residence of John F. Kennedy and his sister Kathleen in 1941. Across 16th Street is Meridian Hill Hall, Howard University’s first co-ed dormitory. It opened in 1942 as apartments for women war workers at a time of severe housing shortages.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • War, US Civil • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Adams Morgan Heritage Trail, the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 38° 55.382′ N, 77° 2.197′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Adams Morgan. Marker is on 16th Street Northwest south of Euclid Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1600 Euclid Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Hilltop for Heroes and Horse Thieves (a few steps from this marker); Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lithuania's March to Freedom (about 300 feet away); Constitution of 3 May 1791 (about 300 feet away); Campus to Army Camps and Back Again (about 300 feet away); Park Tower (about 300 feet away); José Martí (about 400 feet away); Visionary and Park Champion (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
More about this marker. At the top of the monument is a photo of Houses later razed for Meridian Hill Park, around 1918. On the right is a photo of a dwelling in the park, captioned, Among the designs George Oxley Totten, below, created for Mrs. Henderson was the Louis XIV-style house Embassy of France at 2460 16th Street. Also seen is a drawing of Weyland Seminary, 15th and Euclid Sts., which operated here until it merged into Virginia Union University in Richmond in 1892.
Lower on the right is a photo of the area. The Pink Palace stood out on sparsely built Meridian Hill, 1907. In the lower left is a photo of John F. Kennedy and his sister Kathleen visiting London in 1941, the year they lived in Dorchester House. And to the bottom right are photos illustrating Meridian Hill Apartments. Laborers, right, finish Meridian Hill Apartments, 1942, where two war workers enjoyed modest quarters, above.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,785 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on March 15, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 16, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 15, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on March 16, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on April 25, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.