The Octagon Museum

09/05/2024

We think Col. John Tayloe would agree “August slipped away like a bottle of wine.”

Luckily, we have so much to look forward to this morning at The Octagon! Head to our link in bio for more info.

07/25/2024

Happy National Intern Day!

Appreciation post for not only our own interns, but all the amazing interns in our universe that we have the honor to interact with 🫶

07/23/2024

Thank you for visiting! It is always a treat :)

How does the saying go? "All work and no play..."

Yesterday, Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS summer interns had the opportunity to have some fun and toured The Octagon Museum, in Washington, DC. They learned about the history and architecture of this amazing house including critical and projects needed to maintain it for the enjoyment of future generations.

Thanks for the great tour Amanda Ferrario!

LEARN MORE
The Octagon is represented in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) Collection - the nation's largest archive of historic architectural, engineering, and landscape documentation - in The Library of Congress. See the records at https://tinyurl.com/5b79ty8m

Interns this summer include: Charlotte Crum (Columbia University) HABS/NCPE Summer Historian; Wanjiru Duncan (University of Maryland) HABS/NCPE Summer Historian; Kevin Ponce-Victoria (Drexel Westphal College of Media Arts & Design) HABS / Latino Heritage Internship Program - LHIP Summer Architect; Brock Corbin (UGA College of Environment and Design) HALS / NCPE Summer Landscape Architect; Alexis Essiaw (TSACS Tuskegee) HABS/ HBCUI NPS Summer Architect; Joseph Tannir (University of Maryland) HABS/NCPE Summer Architect; Isaac Knott (UTSA School of Architecture + Planning) HABS/LHIP Summer Architect; Armani Moore (Morgan State University) HABS/HBCUI Summer Architect; and Eliza Vegas ( University of Mary Washington) and NRHP / NCPE Summer Intern.

07/04/2024

Happy Independence Day from The Octagon 🎆

Today, we commemorate the spirit of community and resilience that defines our nation. We celebrate diversity, heritage, and the vibrant tapestry of cultures that make up our shared identity. Wishing everyone a day filled with reflection, unity, and appreciation for our collective journey!

Image Description: eagle sconce hanging on the wall of the Treaty Room which served as the Oval Office for six months following the burning of Washington. James Madison would regularly conduct official business from this room while residing in The Octagon.

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05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day from The Octagon!

Anne Ogle Tayloe is pictured here with daughters Rebecca and Henrietta, two of her 15 children. Seven of her children were born at The Octagon and a nursery was built into their primary bedroom to accommodate for around the clock care.

Today, and every day, we recognize mothers, mother figures, and all of the caregivers who make the magic happen. 💐

04/19/2024

Flashback Friday to our Say It Loud exhibit!
From June to December 2022, The Octagon featured a diverse group of designers and their award winning work in the halls of the museum. Visit for stories and inspiration on rising architects as we close Architecture Week! Make sure to stay connected so you can receive news on any upcoming exhibitions at The Octagon Museum.
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04/17/2024

Many architects find their interest in design and the built environment at a young age. Cultivating and supporting the next generation of design professionals is at the core of the Architects Foundation’s mission. Through our educational programs, exhibitions, and scholarships for students and early career architects, we inspire and invest in the architects who will shape our collective future.

How do you engage youth in architecture?

03/31/2024

We have our pastels on today!

Happy Easter to all who celebrate 🐰🌸

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03/17/2024

Did you know Irish-American architect James Hoban supervised the construction of The Octagon and the U.S. Capitol while also serving as lead architect of the White House?

Originally from County Kilkenny, Ireland, Hoban trained at the Dublin Society Drawing School before emigrating to the United States in the 1780s. Today we celebrate the many contributions Irish-Americans have made to our built environment.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! 🍀🍀🍀

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01/26/2024

Join us on Saturday, February 24th from 11:00am-12:30pm for a special Parallel Histories program at the oldest private residence in our nation’s capital. Museum Manager Amanda Ferrario will lead a tour of The Octagon that illuminates the lives of the enslaved individuals who built, lived, and worked in early Washington, DC. View and explore documents and artifacts from The Octagon’s collection that reveal the hidden histories of our built environment.

This event is free and open to all ages. RSVP at link in bio.

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01/19/2024

Due to inclement weather, we are closed today.

We hope this colorful photo of Dolley Madison at the Octagon warms up your day!

🖼️ : Peter Waddell oil on canvas

11/27/2023

Come design and build your own gingerbread masterpiece at The Octagon on December 6th! Join Maven Construction and the Architects Foundation to create your own gingerbread house while learning more about the history behind this festive tradition.

Use this link to purchase tickets

Get Tickets for Gingerbread Architecture.

10/02/2023

Happy World Architecture Day! 📐🏛️📚
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The 2022 CODA Awards honored the creativity and craftsmanship of designers in South Korea, Canda, Taiwan, and The United States. Their work is on display in The Octagon until the end of this year, stop by to check it out!
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The Octagon is open to visitors each Friday and Saturday from 11AM until 4PM. Get tickets in our bio through our linktr.ree https://buff.ly/45i74g5
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09/19/2023

Last chance for tickets to "An Evening with Artist Peter Waddell" on Thursday, September 21st at 6pm at The Octagon.

Join us for an evening of art, history, and commentary about early Washington, DC. Following the talk, enjoy light refreshments and lively conversation.

$15 for members/$25 for non members.

Get your ticket today! https://octagonmuseum.ticketspice.com/an-illustrated-talk-with-peter-waddell

Caption: Bird's Eye View of The Octagon, Oil Painting by Peter Waddell

08/11/2023

How does the saying go? "All work and no play..."

Earlier this summer, Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS summer interns had the opportunity to have some fun and toured the beautiful and historic The Octagon Museum, in Washington, DC. They learned about the history and architecture of this amazing historic house including how important historic preservation issues have been resolved.

Thanks for the great tour Amanda Ferrario!

LEARN MORE
The Octagon is represented in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) Collection - the nation's largest archive of historic architectural, engineering, and landscape documentation - in The Library of Congress. See the records at https://tinyurl.com/5b79ty8m

03/17/2023

Thanks again to everyone who has visited us after our reopening! We are excited to share that we are open for summer hours! Come get your tickets via link in bio for March through Labor Day. Thurs-Sat 11-4.

When we were closed recently, we had a whole lot of projects happening behind the scenes, including annual artifact cleaning and inspection, exhibit de installation of Say It Loud, spring cleaning, roof work…plus building envelope testing with the support of !

03/08/2023

On this we want to doubly celebrate our museum manager, Amanda Ferrario! Happy birthday and thanks for all you do!

02/22/2023

We look forward to welcoming you back into our space! We reopen on Friday, February 24; get tickets today at https://architectsfoundation.org/octagon-museum/

01/27/2023

Join DC Preservation League and the DC Legacy Project at The Octagon on Tuesday, January 31st at 6pm for the Barry Farm Film Screening.

Reserve your tickets here https://dcpreservation.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dcpreservation/event.jsp?event=270&

01/16/2023

We wanted to remind everyone that The Octagon Museum will be closed Sunday 1/15 through Thursday 2/23 for annual maintenance. You can still virtually tour the museum at the link below!
https://buff.ly/3GEGX8J

However, the museum will reopen Friday February 24th during our regular hours of 11-4pm.

01/13/2023

For our final Fellows Friday, we are highlighting the architect Pascale Sablan, FAIA. She is the founder of Beyond the Built Environment and creator of SAY IT LOUD!

Today and tomorrow, are the last days to see our exhibit in person- come visit for a tour of the museum and explore the exhibit!
https://buff.ly/3IEgZ62

01/09/2023

This Friday January 13th and Saturday January 14th are the last days to see our SAY IT LOUD exhibit in person! Come visit The Octagon Museum for one of our tours and explore this incredible exhibit celebrating the 140 African-American architects who are Fellows of AIA.

You can pre-purchase tickets at the link below. Our guided tours are at 11am and 3pm.
https://buff.ly/2NuLa2H

01/06/2023

As college students are heading back after the holidays, we wanted to highlight more of The AIA Fellows who have led major projects designing buildings for colleges and universities.

To learn more about their designs, follow the link below or come visit our SAY IT LOUD exhibit. Only two weeks left to see it in-person!
https://buff.ly/3IEgZ62

01/03/2023

In case you missed it over the holidays, check out the end of the year message from the 2021-2022 President of the Architects Foundation, R. Steven Lewis, FAIA!

12/30/2022

For our last Fellows Friday of 2022, we are highlighting architects whose featured projects are hospitals and wellness centers. They have dedicated much of their careers to helping their communities through build and being leaders in the industry.

Come see our SAY IT LOUD exhibit next week to learn more about these and many other influential architects!
https://buff.ly/3IEgZ62

12/26/2022

The Octagon is our special place of inspiration, and we ask for your continued support by joining the Octagon Alliance or donating to The Octagon fund! Through your generosity, we are able to care for this historic building and host programs demonstrating the cultural and societal impact of architects and architecture, and the architect’s potential to create a just and equitable society.

Follow the link below to join or donate today!
https://buff.ly/3Wrs0NS

12/23/2022

It's Fellows Friday, and we're highlighting some of the architects who have led significant housing projects to support and benefit their communities. Come visit The Octagon in the new year to learn more about their work in our SAY IT LOUD exhibit!

https://buff.ly/3IEgZ62

12/23/2022

From The Octagon Museum, we wish everyone safe, healthy, and Happy Holidays! It has been a special year for us reopening after being closed during the pandemic. We are so grateful for all of the support from our visitors, members, and everyone this past year.

Remember, The Octagon Museum will reopen after the holidays on January 6th during our regular hours 11-4pm, and we are so excited to see you again then! You can purchase tickets at the link below.
https://buff.ly/2NuLa2H

Watercolor painting by Frederic S. Briggs

12/19/2022

We wanted to remind everyone that The Octagon Museum will be closed Friday 12/23 through Saturday 12/31 for the holidays. However, the museum will reopen for the new year on Friday January 6th during our regular hours of 11-4pm!

You can purchase tickets at the link below, the 11am and 3pm tour are included with admission!
https://buff.ly/2NuLa2H

12/16/2022

It's Fellows Friday, and we're highlighting some of the architects who have lead the projects for libraries. Each of them have focused their work to impact and embrace their diverse communities.

Check out the link below to see if you have visited these libraries and learn more about their projects!
https://buff.ly/3IEgZ62