CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Former Swedish Ambassador’s Residence

3900 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC

From the Lawrence House to the Swedish Residence

Arthur B. Heaton designed this house for publisher David Lawrence in 1924. A fire badly damaged its interior in 1946, and the subsequent owners repaired it for sale. Sweden acquired it early in 1950; Ambassador Erik Boheman and his family moved in that spring from 2249 R Street, which became the chancery. [1]

The house stood vacant from 1972 to 1974 during the diplomatic dispute over Sweden’s opposition to the Vietnam War. Ambassador Wilhelm Wachtmeister resumed residence in 1974 and held an open house with Swedish food and traditional dress. The ambassador’s household remained on Nebraska Avenue until Karin Olofsdotter moved into House of Sweden in mid-December 2021. [1] [2]

Diplomatic Use

Changes to the Property

  • Construction: 1924 [1]
  • Fire damaged the house: 1946-12 [1]
  • Property acquired: 1950. Detailed history cites deed recorded February 17, 1950; original deed not inspected. [1]
  • Ambassador’s household moved out: 2021-12. Mid-December [2]

Sources

  1. Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, historic landmark nomination

    PDF pages 6, 20, 32, and 35–36; Sections 7 and 8

  2. På ny adress

    Kulturvärden 1, 2022, paragraphs about Nebraska Avenue and the December move

Notes

  • The nomination’s summary labels 1950–2023 broadly as diplomatic use, while SFV dates the household’s move to December 2021. Detailed purchase evidence supports 1950 despite an isolated 1949 statement elsewhere in the nomination.

Related Reading

Cite This Article

Former Swedish Ambassador’s Residence. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record version 9d7da2e67fff6ca3b068.

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