American Revolution Society of the Cincinnati’s Anderson House

The Society of the Cincinnati is chartered to preserve the ideals, fellowship and memory of the Revolutionary War officers from the 13 original states and France who served and sacrificed during American Revolution.

Formed in 1783 in Washington, DC, the Society holds one of the largest collections of manuscripts, books, maps, portraits and models relating to military and naval history during the American Revolution through the War of 1812.  Their state-of-the-art research library allows historians and scholars to study the American Revolutionary period.

The Society is named for Lucius Cincinnatus, the early Roman citizen-soldier and aristocrat who twice led the Roman army in victory. Yet immediately after serving, he declined to remain in his position as dictator and returned to private life.

George Washington was the Society’s first president general. But critics, such as Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin feared the society might create an elite class of citizens that  could influence elections and more easily place their members into elected offices.

The 50-room neoclassical Anderson House mansion, opened in 1905 on Embassy Row in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. It is open to the public for guided tours.

The building was crafted with ornately carved wooden and hand-painted mural walls, gilded ceilings and columns above marble floors and ornate iron staircases.  For its time it was considered very modern with all the modern conveniences of its day with central heat, electricity, telephones and even two elevators.

Many of the original English paintings, French furniture, tapestries, decorative arts and antiques are still on display in the mansion.

Behind the mansion, the restored gardens include a beautiful reflecting pool.

Society of Cincinnati
Anderson House 
2118 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-785-2040

Dates & Times - Tuesdays through Saturdays – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Free 60-minute guided tours start at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15.

Admission - Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Dupont Circle, Red line, then a 2-block walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.

Parking – Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.

Images – interior, Flickr – exterior

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