Russian ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C.

The Russian ambassador's residence
Russian ambassador's residence in 2020
Location1125 16th Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Coordinates38°54′17″N 77°02′10″W / 38.90459°N 77.03616°W / 38.90459; -77.03616
Built1910
Architectural styleBeaux-Arts
Part ofSixteenth Street Historic District
Added to NRHP1978

The Russian ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. historically known as the Mrs. George Pullman House, is a Beaux-Arts building[1] located at 1125 16th Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the Downtown neighborhood.

The building is designated as a contributing property to the Sixteenth Street Historic District. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[2][3] and was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites on 8 November 1964.[4]

History

Built in 1910 to the designs of architectural firm Wyeth & Sullivan,[4] the building is three and a half stories high and is made of brick bearing walls with steel floor and roofing members.[3] The building permit estimated the cost at $125,000, whereas the completed house ended up costing $361,000 in 1910.[5]

The building was built at the request of Mrs. George Pullman for her daughter Florence Pullman, who was married to Illinois House Representative Frank O. Lowden.[5] Due to Frank Lowden's deteriorating health he left Washington in the spring of 1911, and Mrs. Florence Pullman - who never moved into the house - sold it in 1913 to her friend Natalie Hammond.[5]

In 1913 the house was sold to Russia[1] for $350,000 to serve as the Russian Embassy[5] during Nicholas' reign. Ambassador George Bakhmeteff became its first occupant.[5]

From 1933 till 1991, the building served as the Embassy of the Soviet Union, and from 1991 till 1994 it served as the Embassy of Russia.[5] Since then it has served as the residence for the Russian ambassador in Washington, D.C.

Events

Beginning in 1970, a vigil was held there, over Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union.[6]

In 1967, U.S. Navy communications specialist John Anthony Walker walked into the embassy. In 1980, Ronald Pelton, a National Security Agency communications analyst, walked into the Soviet Embassy.[7]

In 1989, during glasnost, Tom Clancy among others were invited to receptions there.[8]

In 1991, there was a protest over events in Lithuania.[9]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russian ambassador's residence (Washington, D.C.).

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Pullman House, 1119-1125 Sixteenth Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC". Library of Congress. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  2. ^ "NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM". U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Washington, DC SP Sixteenth Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)". National Archives Catalog. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "DC INVENTORY OF HISTORIC SITES" (PDF). DC.gov. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Residence of the Ambassador". Russian Government. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Rafael Medoff (2002). Jewish Americans and political participation: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-314-8.
  7. ^ Valentine, Paul W. (17 December 1986). "Convicted Spy Pelton Given Life Prison Term". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  8. ^ Gamarekian, Barbara (15 March 1989). "Washington Talk: The Soviet Embassy; The Thaw of Glasnost Warms Social Circuit". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Masters, Brooke A. (20 January 1991). "150 Protest At Soviet Embassy; D.C. Pickets Decry 'Shame' in Lithuania". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2017.


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