Woodrow Wilson House (Washington, DC)

Teenagers, United States, Washington, DC 4 Minutes

https://woodrowwilsonhouse.org

You only have ten more days to tour the Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, DC before it’s closed until next spring! This is where Woodrow and Edith retired to after the White House and is a time capsule of their history.

History

When it was time to leave the White House in 1921, President Woodrow Wilson was still recovering from his devastating stroke that occurred in October of 1919. He had difficulty walking, so his wife, First lady Edith Wilson, looked for handicapped-accessible homes nearby. She found a home at 2340 S Street in northwest Washington that was perfect. Built in 1916, it even had an elevator and was in a private area. They moved directly from the White House to their new home. Woodrow died there in 1924 and Edith died there in 1961. 

The home was made a house museum by her will and is preserved just as she left it at her death. 

Visit

The Woodrow Wilson home is in a residential area of Washington near Embassy Row. Its neighbor is now Jeff Bezos and the Obamas live down the street. Parking can be tricky so it’s best to Uber or taxi to the home. 

Until September 20th, there are daily guided tours which is the only way to see the house. After September 20th, you’ll have to wait until spring while the home undergoes an extensive HVAC project. 

The bottom floor of the home has a gift shop along with a small study for Woodrow’s secretary (which was Edith’s brother).

Don’t miss the sheep’s wool from the White House WWI flock on the wall!

It also has an exhibit room which tells the stories of others in Washington, DC during the Wilson administration. I loved the memorabilia and photos displayed here.

The tour will start upstairs in the parlor which is left just as if Edith will walk in at any moment. 

This art piece was painted by Woodrow’s first wife, Ellen, who died while he was in office (read more about her and Edith at my Booking It Through History: First Ladies post). 

Next the tour takes you to Woodrow’s study which is masculine and warm. You can just imagine the intellectual former professor reading a large tome in here! This is where the family relaxed, and the piano in the corner was the one given to his daughter while in the White House. 

Note the radio microphone on the side table. This is where Woodrow gave the first nationwide remote radio broadcast to commemorate Armistice Day in 1923 on the 5th anniversary of the end of WWI. 

The rug in here is unique. It was a gift to Woodrow and contains many patriotic symbols like the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty. 

The tour then takes you through the beautiful sunroom with Edith’s favorite flowers – orchids – on display.

My favorite room is next – the dining room. Edith invited every subsequent first lady to her home for a luncheon, and the table is set up as if Jackie Kennedy (who was the last first lady to come here) was stepping in at any moment. 

As you go up the stairs to the third floor, don’t miss Edith’s beautiful White House portrait.

At the top of the stairs is an ethereal portrait of Woodrow’s first wife and his three daughters. I love how Edith didn’t mind having reminders of the previous Mrs. Wilson displayed. 

Edith’s bedroom is comfortable and simple. 

She was very proud of her ancestral link to Pocahontas.

Her wardrobe is on display – just look at these amazing shoes and dress! And her bathroom and dressing room is neat to see.

Woodrow’s bedroom across the hall has reminders of his life as president. This is where he died in 1924 with Edith by his side. 

His wardrobe includes the famous fur coat he wore in France in negotiating the peace after WWI.

Don’t miss the trunk room in the hallway.

In the basement, the Wilson pantry and kitchen is preserved.

I loved seeing the White House china here!

Kids will love seeing the dumbwaiter. 

Be sure to visit the Woodrow Wilson house before it closes for months! It’s a hidden gem in Washington!

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Published by Jayda Justus, The History Mom

Jayda B. Justus is the creator/writer of the blog, The History Mom, where she provides detailed reviews of US and European historical sites for families with corresponding book recommendations. She loves interacting with the bookish world on Instagram as @thehistorymom, especially #bookstagram, and has appeared as a guest on several podcasts, blogs, and media outlets. Her favorite genres to read are historical fiction and nonfiction, but she also loves contemporary and historical romance and women’s fiction. Hailing from the historic town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, she is a former legislative director for a Member of Congress and now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family where she spends her days working on her first novel. Visit her at The History Mom (https://thehistorymom.com).

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