Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
2209 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
The 1912 brick house has a columned porch, a balustraded terrace, and a compound hipped roof. The National Park Service attributes it to Wood, Donn & Deming.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1912 | verified; Residence construction follows the original nomination. |
| Acquired by Ethiopia | Not verified | unverified; No verified acquisition or lease commencement date found. |
| Neighborhood | Sheridan-Kalorama | verified; Historic district / International Chancery Center setting. |
| Architect | Wood, Donn & Deming | verified; Original building attribution; Wilets Architecture designed the 2015 guardhouse additions. |
| Rooms | 15 | estimated; Low-confidence estimate for the ambassadorial house, including bedrooms, reception, dining, kitchens, and support rooms. 7,651 sq ft × 0.56 room-floor fraction ÷ 330 sq ft average counted room = about 15 rooms; sensitivity range 5–20. This is not a surveyed inventory. |
| Floor area | 7,651 sq ft | verified; DC CAMA commercial record for SSL 2527 0306, building 1, section 1: LIVING_GBA 7651 sq ft. This preserves the assessor living gross building area definition. |
| Site area | 14,580 sq ft | verified; DC parcel LANDAREA; the federal campus parcel is not substituted for an unverified mission lease area. |
| 2026 Value | $7.86M | verified; DC current assessment CY1YEAR 2026; not a sale price or acquisition value. |
| Diplomatic use | 1973 | documented-by; The State Department November 1973 diplomatic photo directory places Ambassador Kifle Wodajo at 2209 Wyoming Avenue. This proves diplomatic residential use by 1973; the May 1972 date printed beneath his name is his appointment, not a property use date. PDF p.27; introduction dated November 1973 on PDF p.3. |
Scope and Evidence
Documented as the ambassador’s residence in dated sources; Ethiopian ownership remains recorded in the current parcel data. Current occupancy has not been independently inspected.
The supplied street photographs establish the front facade and porch. Opposing overhead views establish the L-shaped footprint, projecting side bays, seven main-house dormers, notched membrane roof, rear portico, and detached outbuilding. Dimensions and obscured side openings remain estimates.
- commons.wikimedia.org
- ethiopianfood.wordpress.com
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- npgallery.nps.gov
- www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov
Research Questions
Where Is Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence?
2209 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008. Approximate interior point of exact DC owner polygon.
When Was Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1912. Record status: verified. Residence construction follows the original nomination. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
Who Designed Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence?
Architect: Wood, Donn & Deming. Record status: verified. Original building attribution; Wilets Architecture designed the 2015 guardhouse additions. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the Floor Area of Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: 7,651 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC CAMA commercial record for SSL 2527 0306, building 1, section 1: LIVING_GBA 7651 sq ft. This preserves the assessor living gross building area definition. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the Site Area of Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 14,580 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC parcel LANDAREA; the federal campus parcel is not substituted for an unverified mission lease area. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.
What Is the 2026 Value of Ethiopian Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $7.86M. Record status: verified. DC current assessment CY1YEAR 2026; not a sale price or acquisition value. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-29.