Adams Morgan in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
Mrs. Henderson's Favorite Embassy
— Adams Morgan Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
1. Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Marker
Inscription.
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania. Mrs. Henderson's Favorite Embassy. You are standing in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania., The Spanish Baroque style mansion is all that remains of what was once a duplex, or double, embassy building designed by George Oakley Totten for Mary Foote Henderson's exclusive embassy enclave here. The mansion was constructed in 1907-08. The left-hand portion was demolished and replaced in 1965 by a nine-story apartment house. Fortunately the original two pieces were constructed to be independent, so the removal of the left side did not imperil the right., The building surfaces are carved limestone. As he did in the dozen other buildings he designed as embassies for Henderson, architect Totten looked to Europe for design ideas. The tower, carvings, and upper stories supported by arcades take after the Palacio de Monterrey, built in the 1500s in Salamanca, Spain. Totten and Henderson were responsible for 12 grand mansions designed for foreign legations on or near Meridian Hill. The Embassy of Lithuania is one of nine that remain., In 1908 the Danish ambassador rented the building from Henderson, shortly after the Swedish embassy took up residence next door. The ambassador stayed until 1912. Until Lithuanian Envoy Kazys Bizaukas purchased the house from Henderson in 1924, a series of foreign and domestic diplomats rented the elegant structure, giving parties that defined Washington's early 20th-century diplomatic scene., Upon Henderson's death in 1931, her heirs discovered that after receiving $5,000, Henderson had refused any further payments from the Lithuanian government. The delegation occupied the residence for free until her heirs completed the delayed sales transaction., In 2004 the embassy doubled the building's size with a rear addition for offices and conference space.
You are standing in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Spanish Baroque style mansion is all that remains of what was once a duplex, or double, embassy building designed by George Oakley Totten for Mary Foote Henderson's exclusive embassy enclave here. The mansion was constructed in 1907-08. The left-hand portion was demolished and replaced in 1965 by a nine-story apartment house. Fortunately the original two pieces were constructed to be independent, so the removal of the left side did not imperil the right.
The building surfaces are carved limestone. As he did in the dozen other buildings he designed as embassies for Henderson, architect Totten looked to Europe for design ideas. The tower, carvings, and upper stories supported by arcades take after the Palacio de Monterrey, built in the 1500s in Salamanca, Spain. Totten and Henderson were responsible for 12 grand mansions designed for foreign legations on or near Meridian Hill. The Embassy of Lithuania is one of nine that remain.
In 1908 the Danish ambassador rented the building from Henderson, shortly after the Swedish embassy took up residence next door. The ambassador stayed until 1912. Until Lithuanian Envoy Kazys Bizaukas purchased the house from Henderson in 1924, a series of foreign and domestic diplomats rented the elegant
Click or scan to see this page online
structure, giving parties that defined Washington's early 20th-century diplomatic scene.
Upon Henderson's death in 1931, her heirs discovered that after receiving $5,000, Henderson had refused any further payments from the Lithuanian government. The delegation occupied the residence for free until her heirs completed the delayed sales transaction.
In 2004 the embassy doubled the building's size with a rear addition for offices and conference space.
Erected by Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, District Department of Transportation, Cultural Tourism DC.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Women. In addition, it is included in the Adams Morgan Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1965.
Location. 38° 55.428′ N, 77° 2.196′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Adams Morgan. Marker is on 16th Street Northwest north of Euclid Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2620 16th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
George Oakley Totten's double embassy in 1939. Only the right hand portion remains.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
4. The Palacio de Monterrey
Totten's inspiration: Spain's Palacio de Monterrey
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
5. Mary Foote Henderson
Embassy promoter Mary Foote Henderson was photographed at a horse show in 1915 with Colonel Robert M. Thompson, president of the American Olympic Association.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
6. The Lithuanian Consulate in Chicago, 1924.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
7. Ambassador Kazys Bizauskas
Lithuanian Ambassador Kazys Bizauskas leaves the White House after presenting his credentials, 1924.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
8. The Ambassador and the Princesses
Ambassador Audrius Brüzga and Lithuania's delegates to the U.S. Cherry Blossom Festival host American and International princesses, 2009.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
9. Time Capsule
President Valdas Adamkus prepares a time capsule to be placed in the embassy's new addition, 2007.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
10. Second Floor Dining Room
The elegant arches and moldings of the Totten-designed embassy's second-floor dining room frame a table of refreshments.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 19, 2015
11. The Lithuanian Embassy
“Embassy of Freedom, 90 Years, 1924 - 2014”
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 2, 2013
12. George Oakley Totten
Close-up of image on the “Life on the Park” marker.
Library of Congress
13. Mrs. Henderson
From The Washington Evening Star June 20, 1908. The article relates how Mrs. Henderson converted the Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Wu, to the fad of vegetarianism.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 570 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on April 27, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.