Larz Anderson House

A very detailed and fun museum! We came during their flower show where each room was set up with bouquets in artful designs. Very fun. The back garden is also beautiful.

Hidden DC gem! This is an amazing, free activity in Dupont. The tour was about 45 minutes long and was very detailed and interesting, you are sure to learn a lot. I never knew so much thought and detail could go into a house. I love that you don’t need tickets, and that if you come early there is an exhibit in the lobby to walk through. We came around 11am on a weekend and there were about 20 other guests there for the tour. I like that you do not have to get advance tickets!

This was the highlight of our DC trip! Larry was our tour guide and he did such a great job of describing the home, the time period, and the uses for each room! It was almost like traveling back in time and getting a view of the gilded age!

The BEST mansion tour I ever had!!! It is all because Martin, who is very knowledgeable, he made this tour great! He showed me the magnificent mansion, the history, the stories and many hidden gems. I shared the tour info with my friends and family, and cannot wait to bring them back for the tour.

Amazing free museum. The guided tour is excellent and the curator, who was generous enough to give our tour, was phenomenal and very informative. Tours start 15 minutes past and there are exhibits you can visit while you wait, tours cannot be reserved. The staff was extremely kind and helpful. We learned a great deal about the buildings history and the Society of the Cincinnati - I would highly recommend. They also have many free events and lectures open to the public.

Incredible 1-hour lively and detailed tour of this astonishing house, plus the art and US history it contains. The young man guiding our tour did a stellar job. Free admission.

Another D.C. off the beaten path history gem. Beautiful mansion that serves as the headquarters of the Society of Cincinnati. Excellent tour guide who provided information on the Andersons, early 20th century D.C. high society, the mansion itself and of course the history of the Society of Cincinnati. Added bonus was a Marquis de Lafayette exhibit. Thanks and til next time.

Filming a wedding at Larz Anderson House was an absolute blast! The historic charm of the venue, with its elegant architecture and period furnishings, set a beautiful scene for the wedding footage. The highlight for me was definitely the stunning gardens – they provided the perfect backdrop for capturing intimate moments between my couple. The venue's elegance added a touch of sophistication to the footage, and learning about its rich history added depth to the storytelling. The staff were attentive and ensured everything ran smoothly, making it a pleasure to film at Larz Anderson House. It's a gem of a venue for couples seeking a historic, classic, elegant, and rustic feel for their special day!

A very detailed and fun museum! We came during their flower show where each room was set up with bouquets in artful designs. Very fun. The back garden is also beautiful.

Hidden DC gem! This is an amazing, free activity in Dupont. The tour was about 45 minutes long and was very detailed and interesting, you are sure to learn a lot. I never knew so much thought and detail could go into a house. I love that you don’t need tickets, and that if you come early there is an exhibit in the lobby to walk through. We came around 11am on a weekend and there were about 20 other guests there for the tour. I like that you do not have to get advance tickets!

This was the highlight of our DC trip! Larry was our tour guide and he did such a great job of describing the home, the time period, and the uses for each room! It was almost like traveling back in time and getting a view of the gilded age!

The BEST mansion tour I ever had!!! It is all because Martin, who is very knowledgeable, he made this tour great! He showed me the magnificent mansion, the history, the stories and many hidden gems. I shared the tour info with my friends and family, and cannot wait to bring them back for the tour.

Amazing free museum. The guided tour is excellent and the curator, who was generous enough to give our tour, was phenomenal and very informative. Tours start 15 minutes past and there are exhibits you can visit while you wait, tours cannot be reserved. The staff was extremely kind and helpful. We learned a great deal about the buildings history and the Society of the Cincinnati - I would highly recommend. They also have many free events and lectures open to the public.

Incredible 1-hour lively and detailed tour of this astonishing house, plus the art and US history it contains. The young man guiding our tour did a stellar job. Free admission.

Another D.C. off the beaten path history gem. Beautiful mansion that serves as the headquarters of the Society of Cincinnati. Excellent tour guide who provided information on the Andersons, early 20th century D.C. high society, the mansion itself and of course the history of the Society of Cincinnati. Added bonus was a Marquis de Lafayette exhibit. Thanks and til next time.

Filming a wedding at Larz Anderson House was an absolute blast! The historic charm of the venue, with its elegant architecture and period furnishings, set a beautiful scene for the wedding footage. The highlight for me was definitely the stunning gardens – they provided the perfect backdrop for capturing intimate moments between my couple. The venue's elegance added a touch of sophistication to the footage, and learning about its rich history added depth to the storytelling. The staff were attentive and ensured everything ran smoothly, making it a pleasure to film at Larz Anderson House. It's a gem of a venue for couples seeking a historic, classic, elegant, and rustic feel for their special day!

The Anderson house was beautiful. I was so amazed that I hadn't been here before the house is in Dupont Circle. I went on Sunday after the farmers market and joined a free tour. Do you learn a lot about the history behind the house and also get to walk-through incredible rooms decorated with ornate beautiful Antiques lots of beautiful chandeliers. I highly recommend going on a slow day even though I did go on Sunday and it was still manageable.

This museum tour is a hidden gem in DC. Learn about some American history while admiring the beautiful ornate interior of the mansion. In order to see the rooms, you must go on a guided tour. There was a small self-guided exhibit on view though. Tours seemed to start around every 15 of the hour (10:15, 11:15 etc) and lasted about an hour give or take. Most of the time they seem to last a little over an hour. We went on an 11:15 tour on a weekday and there were 10 people in the group. Our tour guide Allen was very experienced and knowledgeable and made sure everyone felt engaged in the tour.

Attended the "Art In Bloom" 2024 and it was absolutely beautiful. They curated every space to hold different art displays of flower arrangements to accompany the artifacts they have on display throughout the museum. The staff were very helpful and even handed out maps of the museum pinpointing their favorite spaces. Now that i know about this place I would love to attend more events in this space!

Came here around 11:20 am and missed the tour that started at 11:15 am. They have a new tour every hour so we waited for the next one at 12:15 pm. In the meantime, Denise showed us where the Lafeyette exhibit where you can't take photos. It was pretty interesting to learn about him and see George Washington's will. Paul and Marianne were our tour guides. They let us put our coats in a coat closet and gave a great and detailed tour! It was super interesting to learn about the Andersons, the history of the house, the Society of Cincinnati, and the current use of the house. Really unique and rich architecture and decorations as well. Glad I decided to stop by!

I finally visited the Anderson House last weekend when I was in DC after having it on my list for a while! The house was built for Larz Anderson, an American diplomat, and his wife. The house was completed in 1905, and the Andersons used the house for entertaining (events like diplomatic receptions and formal dinners) until 1937. Famous guests included William Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and Winston Churchill. The Andersons left the house to The Society of the Cincinnati (an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the American Revolution). The history of the house is interesting, but I was there for the architecture and the art. The house is a Beaux Arts masterpiece and houses the Andersons' vast art collection (tapestries, sculptures, paintings)! Their website isn't great (it reads as if visitors can do self-guided tours of the house, but when we arrived we had to wait 20-ish minutes for the next guided tour) and they are often closed for private events (there was a wedding about to start when we were there), so if you really want to tour it, I would call ahead and make sure they are going to be open and find out their hours. The good news is that a tour of this amazing house is free! Definitely put it on your DC Bucket List.

Such an underrated attraction despite being so close to DuPont Circle. Incredible history and beauty was crammed into three floors. Entry was free and there were guided tours every hour. In the time between tours, visitors can explore the "guests" room. The guided tour took us through the office, living room, ballroom, kitchen and several art rooms. The third floor was closed off as it housed bedrooms for those part of the Society of Cincinnati. Larz and Isabel Anderson's house was extravagant, covered in gold furniture and decorated with Japanese art pieces. Honestly without the tour, I would have been confused with the hodgepodge of cultural items but our tour guide Libby explained every piece and decor choice thoroughly. Most of the furniture was original but a few chairs were added in for guests to sit down on. The tour was ADA friendly as there was an elevator and our guide made sure transitioning was comfortable. The garden was unfortunately under construction so it wasn't visible. I enjoyed my visit despite not knowing anything about the founding couple and left feeling a tad more knowledgeable. A pleasant stop for an hour, especially in the DC heat.

The first floor is open only for visitors unless you order a tour. This is a nice building inside and outside. Worth stepping in.

Anderson House is a phenomenal and historic estate that is truly breathtaking! If you have not toured this estate yet, please add it to your list! I think it's one of DC's best kept secrets in terms of private artwork and interior design.

I'm showcasing the event celebrated at the Larz Anderson House called "Art in Bloom DC". The actual historic property located in the area of DuPont Circle, serves as a museum (free entry during working ours Monday to Saturdays). This is a beautiful Mansion was the winter residence of the American diplomat, Larz Anderson and his wife, Isabel Anderson (an author and philanthropist). This "Florentine Villa" showcase their wide art collection, a backdrop for high society galas, and a home from which they explored what they considered "the most beautiful of American cities." "Art in Bloom DC" is a well known event for DMV area Florists, Event Designers and Plastic Artists displays! If you like architecture, interior design and adore flowers (or everything Spring) this is the type of event that you would love to book! The interior design is pompous, you can tell there's some Rococó influence combined with strong English (carved wood walls) and Italian architectural staples (ornate iron staircases and intricate marble floors/thresholds). The garden has outdoor seating, so you can bring an ice latte and a light sandwich to have a lovely lunch or afternoon delight!

I came here for Art in Bloom and was completely blown away by how beautiful this mansion is. There's 50 rooms in this house and the garden was so beautiful. Admission is free and the staff is more than happy to answer any questions.

We tried to visit the House twice and both times were unsuccessful. The first time we showed up they informed us there was an event happening and the next tour was canceled with no heads up. The second time we showed up we walked in at 10:16 for the 10:15 tour and they told us we would have to wait for the 11:15 tour because we were too late. Mind you, we were looking for parking. Very disappointing considering we traveled from Texas and our time and days were limited. We came early intentionally and were still let down. I heard it's really pretty though.

This is a wow! The Larz and Isabella Anderson house is an opulent entertaining home in the middle of DC, DuPont Circle. With free admission and an hour docent guided tour, there was nothing to dislike about this attraction. The home is a DC society hangout of it's time that was donated upon the death of the owners to the Cincinnati Society which opens it to the public free of charge. Loads of history, architecture, arts and original contents, this place really captures your imagination of what it must have been like to be invited to a party there. If you are in DC visiting, or live here but haven't explored the Anderson house, you will want to make this a priority. I'm so glad I did!

It was a beautiful home to tour. The docent was knowledgeable. It was a nice neighborhood close to other museums and restaurants and i was so glad it was free!

I came here for a flower show, Art in Bloom DC. I had a lovely time walking around and viewing the house itself with the floral arrangements displayed throughout. I do want to return and spend more time on the history of the house, but it was beautiful.

I visited Anderson House during Art in Bloom where local florists create stunning masterpieces that complement each room. I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful historic home. It's an easy walk from DuPont Circle.

I love the architecture and decor of this house. It was dedicated to the federal and American revolution era. I love the tapestries in the dining room and the gold detailing. It gave me Parisian Versailles vibes. There were 2 floors to explore. It took us 15-20 mins to explore. There were historians there to explain each room and answer any questions. It is free and wheelchair accessible

We stopped in for Art in Bloom showcasing local floral designs inspired by museum works. We also joined a free tour giving an overview of the old mansion. While not a must see top DC site we did enjoy our time there.

Tour guide was terrible & told us we were not ally to use our cameras to take pictures.

The Anderson House is a 1905 mansion in Dupont Circle once owned by Larz and Isabel Anderson. Larz married into Isabel's wealth and together they built this house as their D.C. home. When Larz left Isabel a widow in 1938, she gave the house (with everything inside) to the Society of the Cincinnati, the oldest patriotic society in the country. Today the society keeps the mansion open for free tours and houses the Revolutionary War Institute, a research center. Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm, free tours are offered by the docents. The tour lasts a little over an hour and you'll get to walk through most of the mansion (it's the only way to see the rooms). You'll hear about how the Society was started by soldiers of the Revolutionary War tasked with keeping freedom alive and taking care of the war's widows and orphans. You'll hear how current membership works, George Washington's involvement, and a lot about Larz Anderson, a Society member, and his wife. The house itself is huge and was cutting edge for its day with electricity and modern heating. The bottom floor has a large hall for entertaining, the library, an outdoor courtyard, and several other rooms. Upstairs has the dining room, entertaining rooms, and a giant hallway. The third floor is not open for tours, but houses thirteen guest rooms for members of the Society. The mansion is decorated with historic art and statues from the Anderson's extensive travels. The Anderson House does have a small museum on the bottom floor and the space is used for events like weddings.

I bought my 1st pkg of potato soup mix from y'all at a boutique in Pensacola, FL. Just made it! Amazing!

Hidden gem in DC! While the Philip Collection gets all the buzz around the corner, the Anderson House is often overlooked and offers a unique art collection. The house is stunning with rich marble, silk tapestries, beautiful wooden carved doors, meticulously carved Japanese jewelry boxes, mineral trees full of precious gems, ornate ceilings, and massive oil paintings. Every room is breathtaking and leaves you in awe! The Anderson house has a wonderful rich history behind the exquisite collection of art pieces. The docent led us through a curated tour peppered with interesting facts of how the house was built in 1905 during the Gilded Age as Larz and Isabel's winter home, which they left to the Society of Cincinnati when they passed away. The Japanese artwork was influenced by Larz when he was an ambassador to Japan. Of all the rooms, the cozy room above the staircase with paintings of Isabel in multiple forms, George Washington presenting Lafayette a certificate to the Society of Cincinnati, and the intricate Japanese hand carved wooden boxes was my favorite. Through the artwork, the room painted a vivid picture and time capsule of the magnificent home. As the museum closes at 4pm, I recommend getting there by 3:15 for a tour with the docet. The docet was very knowledgeable and friendly, she gave us extra time. The Anderson House is among my favorite DC historical homes along with Tudor House, Hillwood, Dumbarton Oaks, Mount Vernon, and Lincoln's Cottage. Anderson House makes for a gorgeous wedding venue with a grandiose ballroom and beautiful courtyard. Although my husband and I already had our wedding (wish we saw this beforehand!), I heard great things and saw a wedding being set-up during our tour. It also seems to be pretty affordable as well!

Cool old house now run by the Cincinnati Society about the owners of the house and a little about the society dating back to when Hamilton was president of it (and they had a little exhibit on him when I was there). The tours were free and since we were early there was enough else to look at until tour time. The house and furnishings were reminiscent of the mansions in Newport, RI and I think it's interesting to look at Gilded Age furnishings and grandeur. Only down note was the tour guide said something incorrect about an amendment, someone rightly corrected her, then she ignored him. She also was critical how restrictive the society was (only to descendants of original members). It's their private club, so their rules. But it's a free tour, so they probably are going to get whatever tour guide is willing to do it.

Anderson house is such a beautiful museum with a lot of American revolution history. It's so regal. Great location for a wedding or event. So much history here too. We did our engagement photoshoot here and it was just sooooo amazing. So many people reached out to me about the location of our shoot. The staff was super accommodating. We had a staff member accompany us and the photographer around. She was so sweet, she was helping with photo op ideas. We got approval through the Communications Director, Glenn. He was so sweet. He even followed up with us after the shoot to ask how the pictures turned out.

The Society of the Cincinnati is all about the Revolutionary War. So I though the Anderson house would have Artifacts from then. Nope this is all about Lars Anderson and his wife who eventually gave the house to the society. It still neat with everything being Grand and over 100 years old. Just not what I expected. Overall 4 stars. Would I tour again? I doubt it.

We stopped in here after seeing the Phillips Collection -- it was lovely. We knew nothing about the Order of the Cincinnati (officers serving in the Revolutionary War), so that was somewhat interesting, but really enjoyed the stories about Larz and Isabel Anderson and diplomacy during the Gilded Age. It is a lovely house, free to visit, and we had a great docent.

My husband and I got married at the Anderson House in April 2016. Glenn and the entire team was extremely accommodating and helpful throughout the entire process. We had a Hindu ceremony outside, a Christian ceremony inside, cocktail hour and our reception all at the Anderson House. It was our dream wedding and I still hear from others about the beautiful setting. We recently celebrated our second wedding anniversary and Glenn was kind enough to let us walk through again. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. This is a "must see" site for tourists and the perfect venue for your once-in-a- lifetime events.

Trudge through the forrest of worn pathways and find your way towards the shining star known as Anderson House. Off the beaten path for tourists and not well-known to locals, Anderson House is to D.C. As Gatsby's mansion was to West Egg. The Beaux-Art mansion was completed in 1905 and was billed as a "Florentine villa in the midst of American independence." Once upon a time the Anderson's were the most popular hosts in Washington and now millions of tourists walk by without knowing the history of the home or the Andersons. I was once part of that group. In August, I was lucky enough to be part of a friend's 50th surprise birthday party that was hosted on the premises and I had a free, albeit limited, run of some parts of the home. For a moment I felt like Nick Carraway living vicariously through the life of a rich millionaire. I roamed the well-manicured gardens while sipping champagne and for a moment, just a moment, I forgot I was in D.C. The house has French, Itallian, English and Japanese influences- so let it take you to whichever country calls your name. I returned to Anderson House in February for the free concert series that, again, is not well-known to the public. My second visit was during the day and it illuminated several architectural and artistic details that were not as visible at night. A Florentine villa, a hidden gem, a Beaux-Art beauty- call it what you will, but it's a wonderful work of art. Had the Great Gatsby been a Washingtonian, he might have won the girl with a pad like this. I'm just saying... Link to free concert series: http://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/events/public#

Anderson house is definitely one of the best kept secrets of DC, but thanks to Yelp the word is getting out. Anderson House is the HQ of the Society of the Cincinnati which is for descendants of the American and French officers of the Revolutionary War. Naturally, George Washington was the first President of the Society. You have to be a male to be a part of the Society, which is a bit of a downer! There are archives in the basement of the Anderson House if you would like to determine if one of your ancestors was an officer in the Rev. War. Larz and Elizabeth Anderson left the house to the Society of the Cincinnati. They obviously had a significant amount of wealth to build such a beautiful mansion in DC. Larz was once ambassador to Japan and there is some beautiful Asian artwork in the house. One of the first rooms you enter has 17th century (or older) choir stalls which is pretty cool. My favorite room was the French room with the ornate gold scrolled ceilings and silk tapestries. The house is only open 1-4 pm for tours and our tour did start 15 past the hour. It ended up being a private tour which was a nice and rare experience for DC attractions. There are periodic free concerts here which I hope to check out in the future.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: An interesting lesson of the Society of the Cincinnati and of the Gilded Age Washington D.C. I stumbled upon the Anderson house in an attempt to see something that is off the beaten path. We were surprised to see where it was located because we would often drive past and admire the beauty of the mansion and wondered about it's history. The guided tour was great. The docent provided a splendid look with interesting facts on the mansion, the furnishings, the owners and the society. *After your visit go across the street to see the bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Also known as the home of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Anderson House. For those of you (like me, until I visited here) who have no idea what the Society Of Cinncinnati is, I'll 'splain. The Society is for relatives of Revolutionary War Army officers. The word Cincinnati is familiar since once of its members named the Ohio city. There is not much here related to the Society, but it is still worth a visit. The Andersons (for whom the house is named) left it to the society. The house is Renaissance Revival style. Most of the art, furnishings and murals are from the time when the Andersons were still living here. When you go into the drawing room upstairs, you'll think that you somehow are at the Versailles palace in France. To make things more confusing, there is also an English drawing room on the same floor. There's also a gallery with Asian and Italian art. The ballroom is where free concerts are held 2 times a yearUltimately, you end in the Winter Garden, a glassed-in room overlooking a reflecting pool outside, but only after passing through the Ballroom, where the museum hosts two free concert series each year. If you want a group tour you'll need a total of fifteen people, and to also call a month ahead. There is also a research library here with materials the Revolutionary war and the Society.

The most beautiful house I've ever seen.... the tour was amazing and the volunteers are unbelievably friendly! Be sure to visit here if ever in DC.

My boyfriend and I are big museum/historical place buffs, and we really enjoyed the tour given for this house. Also, you have to consider that this landmark is absolutely FREE! However, that does not take away from the grandeur of the house. There are plenty of interesting ornaments, tapestries, paintings, etc. inside, that are strikingly beautiful. Would definitely come here...or move in if I could. This visit would probably take an hour total.

I concur this is a terrific tourist spot, giving guests a nice immersion into something ostentatious and extraordinary. Do pay attention to the tour hours, and we had to actually hit the door buzzer to be permitted inside. No sign, so we thought it might have been closed. Ring the buzzer! For a great day, also recommend touring the Dumbarton House across Rock Creek on Q St., and the nearby Heulich House (Brewmaster's House). Dumbarton is a much earlier federalist style home, and Heulich is a later style home. These are all in easy walking distance, plus the walk along Embassy Row is memorable. Philips Collection is a block away for art fans. Our guide for the Anderson House tour was a little rough. Needed to work on his presentation and probably needed more information on the artifacts. But, you go for the house, not the guide. Also recommend the Hillwood Estate and Museum further north in the city.

Great site for many public events. We came during a concert which was so beautiful and squeezed in house tour with knowledgeable docent. Quite an ornate home that is used for events now. Beautifully decorated murals and decorative pieces that give u sense of wealth during the time period. Plus it's free to tour such a spacious interior that u should visit esp during the concert events. Really thank u society for opening the doors to the public and giving us a glimpse of the splendor during this homes history

This museum house is definitely a hidden gem. After visiting Anderson House, I will now be recommending it to all that visit DC. The house is simply wonderful. The docents cover all the history and details and are very knowledgeable and engaging. Truly a must see when in DC. Best thing it is FREE! Enjoy!!!

I attended an evening event this spring, held at Anderson House. My experiences, recorded as pluses and minuses: + Beautiful space. + Nice back garden, which was fun to have drinks in. + The event itself was very nice. Minuses: - The docent who greeted me upon my arrival at Anderson House asked me to hang my coat in the house cloakroom. When I returned to the cloakroom at the end of the evening, my coat was gone. - The museum staff monitoring the event insisted that my coat had been swapped for another similar (much cheaper) coat hanging in the closet, probably accidentally, by another event attendee. This made sense until I checked the pockets of the coat in question to see if there was a business card or anything in the pockets to identify the owner of the coat; I found a wad of receipts, three years old. This other coat hadn't budged in a long time. - The docent who'd asked me to hang my coat asked me for my contact information in case my coat turned up (she was actually quite helpful, despite the fact that she'd directed me to the cloakroom in the first place). I left my information with her. Really big minus: - When I contacted the head of events at Anderson House the following week, he replied, well, of course we're not responsible if the company hosting the event opted to not have coat check (!), and thanks for contacting us, because of course we never have guest information after the event. No acknowledgement that the museum staff were responsible for my loss of property. No offer to write a check to replace my coat. No response to my email reply, in which I asserted that I HAD left my information, and in which I shared the information I've detailed above. (And no, my coat has not turned up among my fellow event attendees.) TL;DR if you are planning to host an event at Anderson House, tell your guests to under NO circumstances leave their belongings in the cloakroom. And maybe consider a different venue.

I visited Anderson House, which houses a museum about the American Revolution and the descendants of those who fought in the Revolutionary War in Dec 2016. I really enjoyed the guided tour and getting to see the grand house, including Revolutionary War artifacts and the original house of Larz Anderson, whose home this originally was. It was nice seeing the grand hallways, banquet hall, library, etc. The house itself is located near the Dupont Circle area of DC, in the middle of Embassy Row. I'd passed by there before but had no idea it was a museum I could visit. I definitely recommend it! The tour is free and runs at the top of the hour each hour.

In my mind, the Anderson House / Society of Cincinnati is the best kept tourism secret in DC. I take all of my out-of-town guests here. It's the best way to avoid the Smithsonian insanity (Smithsanity?) while still providing tourists with something uniquely DC. That said, it's a great way to burn an hour on the weekend if you're meandering around town without a plan. Drop in! There is no solid reason for it to be a secret at all. It's a few blocks from one of the most walked-upon circles in the universe (Dupont Circle) and the tour is free. Free! As free as parking in Monopoly. I'm sure even grizzled DC veterans have passed this enormous building dozens of times without feeling as though they could waltz right in. The outside of the building is so beautiful -- like many of the embassies that surround it -- that I think people assume it's just another architecturally gifted structure in the area that they are not allowed in. But not only are you allowed in, the Society of Cincinnati staff and tour guides are thrilled when guests arrive! The tour hours are limited (Monday through Saturday, 1pm-4pm), and the website says that tours begin at 15-past the hour on each hour, but I've never really found that to be the case. When I've shown up, normally there are so few guests, the tours begin when there is a reasonable number of people for a group, or failing that, you get your own personal tour! In some cases, if a tour has just begun, they'll add you to the group that just started. Like I said, I've take a number of people on this tour, but it never gets old. It's a relatively quick tour and I've learned new things each time, even with the same guide. Each tour guide focuses on different aspects of the house, the Anderson family, and the relevant historical/geopolitical context. Everyone on staff is extremely knowledgeable and just loves the house. They're always willing to answer questions (during and after the tour) and are overall a joy to follow around. So, go. I should note: The Anderson House is heavy on information and history, so it's not the best place for young children or people who are completely uninterested in growing their brain :)

So cool! Thanks, yelp--this was such a great find! A great museum to visit when you have some free time--don't be intimidated by the fact you have to knock on the door to be let in. The tour is free, and it's super informative without being boring. The docents really know their stuff. Also? The house is beautiful! Well, I mean, it should be since it cost roughly $800,000 in 1905 to build. $800K in 1905! That's craziness. Anyways, the tours start a quarter pass every hour (I think), so if you show up at a random time (say, 1:45PM), you have the option of jumping in to the on-going tour, or waiting until the next one. I chose to jump in, but it's really up to you.

This impressive building is a beautiful remnant of the golden age of the United States. At the time of the completion of this mansion, the United States was an emerging world power, enjoying huge advances in technology and greater general prosperity for its' citizens. Larz Anderson was a proud member of the Society of the Cincinnati. His wife, Isabel, did a tremendous thing when she donated the building to the Society in later years. Because of her generosity, everyone can now enjoy this architectural treasure, situated among the many mansions and embassies on Massachusetts Avenue. The Society of the Cincinnati, named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus; a Roman General who was nominated dictator of Rome, but chose to give up the reins of power to return to his farm, is a hereditary and patriotic society for male descendants of Revolutionary War Officers of France and the original 13 colonies of the United States (both Army and Navy). It is appropriately named, as Washington did the same thing at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. Established in 1783, as the American War for Independence drew to a close, the Society of the Cincinnati is the oldest private patriotic organization in the United States. The organization focuses a vast deal of its' resources on education outreach and grant activity. You can find out more about the membership criteria here: http://www.hereditary.us/cin_membership.htm Not forgetting the ladies, there is a huge and impressive building in Washington which acts as the headquarters for the female descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers, sailors and patriots (with documented service as officers, enlisted - both militia and continental forces - and certain civilians). The DAR headquarters is located across from the White House Ellipse. The male equivalent of this organization is the SAR, and their headquarters is located in Louisville, KY. As noted, the tours are free-of-charge to the general public. You don't want to miss seeing the beautiful furniture, tapestries and overall architecture of Anderson House if you have time while you're in DC. I found this link, which gives a nice overview of Anderson House and hope it remains active for a while: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cevbsvJCLoc

As far as historic house museums go in DC, I think Anderson House is probably the best you can visit. First off, the tour is free, and being the first one in on a Saturday morning, I had my own private guided tour. Madeleine, my tour guide, was incredibly knowledgable about everything in the house. From an art and architecture standpoint, this is probably the most opulent historic house museum in DC, with beautiful furnishings and collections from all over the world that were bequeathed to the current owners of the house, the Society of the Cincinnati, meaning that the collection is in tact and original to the house. The Anderson's family history is tied closely with that of the Society, meaning that anyone who has an interest in Revolutionary War, Civil War, U.S. - France relations, or U.S. Diplomatic History can find something to enjoy here. I highly recommend a visit!

Aside from all the usual (and wonderful!) museums and memorials that we visited on our recent trip to DC, the one place that was unusual was The Society of the Cincinnati at the Anderson House. Members of the Society are descendants of American and French officers who fought in the Revolutionary War. They were showing a special (free!) exhibit of diaries and artifacts from French generals like Lafayette and Rochambeau. It was fascinating! I'm not sure how long this special exhibit will be there, but if you get a chance to see it, don't miss it.

I have a thing for historical mansions and houses. It's as mysterious to me as my love for 18th century British literature, perhaps it's attributed to a stint in a past life. I found the Anderson House on Fodor.com and categorized it as "high priority" on my itinerary for roaming about Dupont Circle. The house was absolutely beautiful, it's such a shame that photography wasn't permitted. The entrance hall had amazing wall painting using trompe l'oeil technique to render three dimensional pillars and sculpture. The grandiose nature of the furnishings is very striking considering it was a private residence. Albeit the inhabitants were grotesquely wealthy, but to be able experience the opulence of the perfectly preserved house is a memorable one. Our docent was very charming and well versed although it was his first tour. Admission was free to boot. An overall lovely time!

Mixed feelings. Incredible building with great architecture and relics from the past, all around the globe. But also kind of a musty smell - I guess that comes from the house remaining in its original form, almost literally. Still, beautiful just the same!! Loved the free classical music upon entering. The tour was free so technically you can never go wrong with free. But boy was it long winded. It started off interesting but it moves at a snails pace and after a while , I recommend to go off on your own and see the rest of the place. Come back and they might be in the same room. I mean, there was nothing wrong with the tour guide, he mentioned some cool stuff and seemed personable, but just dives into some really obscure stuff so after a while, got bored. Overall: I recommend. If the group is big enough, go off on your own if things start to get less interesting/more obscure stuff is mentioned.

Had a wonderful experience here at the Anderson house with two tour guides! I learned a lot about history and the purpose of the society as well as the lives of the andersons and what they did with this house. Its pretty cool to be able to see the inside of an amazing historical mansion.

Giving it a 4 partly because hubby loved it so much and because our docent, Beth, was fantastic. Personally I'd had enough after the first 10 minutes of the tour. I love the history part of it but I don't think I've ever seen anything gaudier than this house. Thank God we don't have that kind of money or hubby would have our house guilded like this one was. Staff was great. We had to cut out at the trail end of the tour because we had a reservation for another tour. The woman manning the door was very gracious and have us perfect directions to our next location. If you like gold and crystal, this is perfect for you. If you're into American history, there's some good stuff about that, just wear your sunglasses inside.

I found this gem while wandering around waiting to check in to my hotel. The guided tour was free, so we stopped in. If you're into artwork, architecture, history or all three, this is a can't miss in DC.

Never responded to my email requests for wedding information/meeting. For someone willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars, you'd think they would return a simple email.

Very beautiful home in DuPont that is now a museum. The house and its furnishings are gorgeous. The tour is wonderful and led by well trained and well spoken docents. The tour is 30-60 minutes and is interesting. The opulence is grand in this old DC mansion. This tour is informative and a great activity in DuPont when you have an hour or two to spare.