Summer Tree Spots: Tudor Place

The house and front lawn at Tudor Place.

We’re all familiar with the big-time historical attractions in D.C. They’re magnificent, of course, but the monuments, the Mall and the museums can cast a large shadow over less-visited spots in the District that deserve some limelight.

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden offers the perfect pause from mainstream D.C. sightseeing. Overlooking Georgetown at 1644 31st Street Northwest, Tudor Place is home to a beautiful garden, a historical museum and - of course - various kinds of trees. About two-thirds of the property is shaded by a diverse tree canopy, which houses species such as kobus magnolia, yellow buckeye, Kentucky coffee-tree, Normann fir and more.

The massive tulip poplar tree on the southeast grounds.

The estate used to be the home of Martha Washington’s granddaughter Martha Curtis Peter and remained in the family from 1816 until 1983. Tudor Place is now open for public viewing Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Take time this summer to check out all that Tudor Place has to offer!

During your visit, don’t miss:

• The 100+ personal objects that belonged to George and Martha Washington, including one of the two known surviving letters from George Washington to Martha.
• A large scarlet oak tree on the north side. The oak was planted in 1932 to commemorate George Washington’s would-be 200th birthday.
• A tulip poplar that was deemed D.C.’s Millennium Tree, located on the south side of the estate.
• A large pecan tree that Casey Trees named the champion of its species in 2006.
• Our trees! Casey Trees planted 26 young trees at Tudor Place during two Community Tree Planting events, one last October and the other this past April. Visit our plantings map and zoom in on 1644 31st Street for species and locations.

Volunteers plant with Casey Trees at Tudor Place in October. See our Flickr page for more photos.

Tudor Place is about a 25-minute walk from Dupont Circle Station on the Red Line. Buses 32, 36 and the Georgetown-Union Station Circulator also serve Wisconsin Avenue nearby. Admission for a docent-led house tour and a self-guided garden tour is $8.00 Admission for the self-guided garden tour only is $3.00.