Anderson House
Anderson House
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
Explore the Society of the Cincinnati's historic headquarters, Anderson House, a National Historic Landmark that has been the Society's home since 1938. The Society and its American Revolution Institute work to honor the men and women who won American independence in the Revolutionary War by supporting advanced study, presenting exhibitions and other public programs, advocating preservation, and providing resources to teachers and students. Tours of Anderson House reveal the history of the Society of the Cincinnati, the significance of the American Revolution, and the lives and collections of the home's first owners, Larz and Isabel Anderson. The mansion was completed in 1905 for the Andersons, a wealthy couple who devoted their lives to public service, travel, entertaining, collecting, and philanthropy-interests and activities that are reflected in Anderson House, where much of the couple's art collection and furnishings are still on display. Guided tours begin at 15 minutes past each hour. Anderson House also offers a changing exhibition gallery, a research library, and an active calendar of public programs.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Cleveland Park
How to get there
- Dupont Circle • 4 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
163 reviews
Excellent
115
Very good
44
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
bigbyrd61
46 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
The house itself is a work of art that you don’t want to miss! There is no entrance fee but to see the house you have to take the guided tour (start 15 minutes after each hour and last about one hour). The docents are volunteers but extremely knowledge, friendly and thorough. This home is a headquarters for the society of Cincinnati-fascinating history there as well! Don’t miss this!
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr Stephen C
Durham, UK275 contributions
Apr 2022
Neither my friend nor I had previously visited Anderson House and we had no idea of what to expect. It turns out to be the Headquarters of the elite Society of the Cincinnati (as in L.Quinctius Cincinnatus the early Roman patriot and patrician). The house was absolutely stunning in every respect. Its proportions and decoration were magnificent. Our guide on Anderson House's first day open after Covid was an exceptionally knowledgeable and interesting curator. My companion and I enjoyed the whole experience enormously. It was indeed a hidden gem, as a previous reviewer put it. Very highly recommended.
Written 23 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kittygal 🇺🇦 🌻
Los Angeles, CA8,990 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
If you like stately homes, this tour is for you. Anderson House has been on my list of to did for many trips, so on my return visit (my first since The Before Times) I made sure to fit in a Saturday morning visit.
The house is the headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization dating back to Revolutionary War times. There's a small exhibit that outlined the society, and the roles the house has set ex over the years, that visitors can peruse before a tour. The free guided tours are the only way to view the splendors of the house interior, and it's worth it.
The different styles of design combined together reminded me a bit of Hearst Castle, but on a more refined, smaller scale. The artwork, particularly the murals and the painting over the main staircase, are stunning.
There is a huge, airy ballroom (as was the case with most of the homes constructed at the time) which is a popular choice as an event venue. The tour also takes in the library and various reception rooms. Everything is carefully maintained and polished to perfection.
As a retired educator and a dedicated architecture geek, I found this excursion to be well worth my time and am glad I squeezed it in to a busy Saturday.
Tours are free, donations are welcome. The website details tour days and times.
The house is the headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization dating back to Revolutionary War times. There's a small exhibit that outlined the society, and the roles the house has set ex over the years, that visitors can peruse before a tour. The free guided tours are the only way to view the splendors of the house interior, and it's worth it.
The different styles of design combined together reminded me a bit of Hearst Castle, but on a more refined, smaller scale. The artwork, particularly the murals and the painting over the main staircase, are stunning.
There is a huge, airy ballroom (as was the case with most of the homes constructed at the time) which is a popular choice as an event venue. The tour also takes in the library and various reception rooms. Everything is carefully maintained and polished to perfection.
As a retired educator and a dedicated architecture geek, I found this excursion to be well worth my time and am glad I squeezed it in to a busy Saturday.
Tours are free, donations are welcome. The website details tour days and times.
Written 16 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BillUsma74
Canton, GA379 contributions
Feb 2020
This wonderful old city mansion is the home of the Society of Cincinnati. This is the HQ of the Society of a Cincinnati and heritage organization of the first sons of Officers from the Revolutionary War. They have tours of this magnificent building, it’s furniture, architecture and artwork. I lived in DC for years and never knew this was here. The true treat is the Library downstairs with original military books, including an original Blue Book Field Manual for Drill created by Von Stuben. The Librarian is terrific as well. We went with a group of West Point Classmates, well worth the stop. Parking can be iffy, however. It is free but you can leave a donation at the front desk.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Subroto M
21 contributions
Nov 2019
This is truly a hidden gem in Washington DC. If you are a fan of history and architecture it will truly blow you away.
The Anderson House was built when America was at its heyday. The architecture is over the top Florentine, but extraordinarily well done and well preserved. It also has an interesting history both past and future.
The Anderson House was built when America was at its heyday. The architecture is over the top Florentine, but extraordinarily well done and well preserved. It also has an interesting history both past and future.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Torte_Sue
Vonore, TN1,538 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
We spent an afternoon near DuPont Circle and stopped in the Anderson House for a tour. First, the woman working at the desk was extremely gracious. However, having toured many homes, we like to see more than displays of opulence. There were some gorgeous tapestries, but the house overall is cold with a few exceptions such as the room for the use of the Society of Cincinnatus. Our guide was a young recent graduate who started out hesitantly but warmed up. We liked some of the exhibits such as Lars Anderson's road maps. Admittance was free.
Now to the Society. They only admit men and at that only the eldest son. Primogeniture went out in the US years ago, and even in England, the eldest child can now take the throne regardless of gender. The high ideals espoused such as preservation of historical knowledge hardly requires men only. We were told membership is in sharp decline from 5,000 to only about 3500. Hmmmm
Do the Woodrow Wilson house tour nearby and see the embassies nearby.
Now to the Society. They only admit men and at that only the eldest son. Primogeniture went out in the US years ago, and even in England, the eldest child can now take the throne regardless of gender. The high ideals espoused such as preservation of historical knowledge hardly requires men only. We were told membership is in sharp decline from 5,000 to only about 3500. Hmmmm
Do the Woodrow Wilson house tour nearby and see the embassies nearby.
Written 27 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
windwanderer
Oahu, HI34 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
Another visit to D.C. and more "off the beaten track" museums.. Anderson House, near Dupont Circle in the "Embassy neighborhood" was the winter home of Lars and Isabel Anderson. Built between 1902 and 1905, the 50 room mansion is filled with treasures gathered on their world travels. The home was designed for grand parties with a huge ballroom, magnificent dining room and many bedrooms. The furniture and art is original to the home.
The home is now the headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization that was founded at the close of the Revolutionary War. It's members are limited to descendants of the original members who were officers that served in the war. It's first President was George Washington. The Society collects materials that relate to the military and naval history of the 18th century.. concentrating on the American Revolution. The library contains thousands of rare books, military documents, maps and the history of the Society and it's members, and is open for research. The guided tour of the home takes about an hour and the volunteer guide was great.. with many stories about the history of the home and Society.
The home is now the headquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization that was founded at the close of the Revolutionary War. It's members are limited to descendants of the original members who were officers that served in the war. It's first President was George Washington. The Society collects materials that relate to the military and naval history of the 18th century.. concentrating on the American Revolution. The library contains thousands of rare books, military documents, maps and the history of the Society and it's members, and is open for research. The guided tour of the home takes about an hour and the volunteer guide was great.. with many stories about the history of the home and Society.
Written 11 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tripper123
Summerville, SC220 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
The Anderson House was part of my Plan B since my original sightseeing plan was derailed due to the shutdown but it really should be moved up on anyone’s list. It has an excellent story well matched to its beauty and staging. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Society of the Cincinnati before visiting here but it is an inspiring part of American history, even if not well known, dating back to 1783 which continues today. And, the Anderson’s were an amazing and generous couple who would be pleased to know their home is so well cared for and appreciated by both the Society and the public. This building is very close to the Phillips Collection and Woodrow Wilson house so you could easily do all three in a day. Our tour guide was well informed and provided many interesting details and stories about the Andersons, the Society and the house. Highly recommended, if somewhat off the beaten path.
Written 23 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryM66
Greensburg, PA42 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
We thought this was the perfect tour. The house and its contents were wonderful in themselves. The history of the House was interesting as was the story behind the first and subsequent owners. A tour like this makes one wonder why students do not lap up history and ask for more.
Our docent was knowledgeable, incredibly interesting and very easy to listen to.
We would definitely tour Anderson House again, and feel fortunate to know about this apparently unadvertised attraction.
Our docent was knowledgeable, incredibly interesting and very easy to listen to.
We would definitely tour Anderson House again, and feel fortunate to know about this apparently unadvertised attraction.
Written 28 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher K
Leland, NC161 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
DC’s best kept secret. Wonderful free museum of the Anderson House which became the location for the Society of Cincinnati. The guide masterfully tied together the post-revolutionary war society and the Anderson’s who built the mansion. Wonderful period architecture and antiques putting you into the heart of early 20th century Washington power. As an added bonus the museum had a Hamilton exhibit. The museum was free and wonderfully run.
Written 26 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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