Georgetown’s Halcyon House Listed for $19.5 Million

One of Washington DC’s most historic properties is up for sale. The Halcyon House, in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, is up for sale for $19.5 million. Described as “…one of the most important private properties in Georgetown or the entire city,” the Halcyon House was built in 1787 by Benjamin Stoddert, who was George Washington’s confidante and the first Secretary of the U.S. Navy. Stoddert also dabbled in real estate — he was asked by Washington to purchase key parcels of land in the DC area that would eventually be used for government property.

Here’s another fun, historic factoid: The Halcyon House gardens were designed by Pierre L’Enfant, DC’s first city planner and the guy with the extraordinary vision to lay out the city with “… wide avenues, public squares and inspiring buildings in what was then a district of hills, forests, marshes and plantations.”

Numerous owners of the Halcyon House have come and gone over the years, but another Halcyon owner and person with historic significance is Albert Clemens, the nephew of Mark Twain. Clemens bought the home in 1900 and renovated it, adding structures freely with the belief that rebuilding the house would extend his life.

In 1966, architect Edmund Dreyfuss bought the house and it is now owned by Dreyfuss’ son, sculptor John Dreyfuss (pictured) who spent 17 grueling years restoring it to its original appearance. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Halcyon is 30,500 sq ft and is located on a half-acre overlooking the Potomac River and the Key Bridge. In addition to the historic mansion, there are also five rental apartments and a separate townhouse.

Of course, with every old, historic house, there are claims of ghosts and hauntings at the Halcyon House.

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(Photo of Dreyfuss courtesy New York Social Diary)