Edward H. Everett House
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
1606 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC
Edward H. Everett commissioned this mansion from George Oakley Totten Jr.; construction ran from 1910 to 1915. The Turkish Embassy leased it in autumn 1932 after occupying premises at 1708 Massachusetts Avenue. The move was initially provisional while the mission looked for a permanent home. [1]
Türkiye purchased the property by a deed dated April 13, 1936, recorded on May 1. It later served both as chancery and ambassadorial residence. The chancery moved to a separate Massachusetts Avenue building in 1999, while the Everett house retained its residential role. [1] [2]
Diplomatic Use
- Embassy and ambassadorial residence: Republic of Türkiye
1932 to 1999 [1] [2] - Ambassadorial residence after chancery relocation: Republic of Türkiye
Start recorded 1999 [2]
Changes to the Property
1606 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Edward H. Everett’s limestone mansion faces 23rd Street with a curved Corinthian portico. Türkiye leased the house in 1932 and bought it in 1936. It housed the chancery until 1999 and continues as the ambassador’s residence.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1915 | verified; HABS DC-258, history section. HABS records construction from August 1910 to June 1915; the inspector described it as 99 percent complete on 4 June 1915. CAMA lists 1911 as the original year; the historical construction record gives a later completion. |
| Acquired by Türkiye | 1936 | verified; HABS documentary chain of ownership. Leased in autumn 1932. Purchase deed dated 13 April 1936, recorded 1 May 1936, Liber 6988, folio 59. The acquisition year denotes purchase; first diplomatic use denotes the lease. |
| Neighborhood | Sheridan-Kalorama | verified Common geographic neighborhood; DC assessment neighborhood field NBHDNAME is Kalorama. |
| Architect | George Oakley Totten Jr. | verified |
| Rooms | 30–65 est. | estimated; Planning estimate: rooms = building area × room-area fraction ÷ average room size. For this residential reception property, assume 55%–70% of the recorded 25,876 sq ft is enclosed usable room area, with an average 300–450 sq ft per room. The range combines the low fraction with the larger room size and the high fraction with the smaller size, rounded outward to five rooms. Room allocation and average size are assumptions. Covers the recorded building area; the interior has not been independently measured. Estimated room range. |
| Floor area | 25,900 sq ft | verified; DC CAMA living gross building area |
| Site area | 12,700 sq ft | verified; Parcel total: 2507/0051. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. |
| 2026 Value | $16.3M | verified; Parcel total: 2507/0051. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. |
Scope and Evidence
The 1932 lease, 1936 purchase and 1999 chancery move are separate events. The property remains identified as the ambassador’s residence in the MFA-hosted Everett House history.
DC record-lot stated area is 12,700 sq ft; its calculated polygon area is 12,699 sq ft. The standard site field uses the stated assessment area.
Seven interior studies document photographed settings. They do not establish a total room count or a connected interior floor plan.
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- tile.loc.gov
- www.mfa.gov.tr
Research Questions
Where Is Turkish Ambassador’s Residence?
1606 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008. Center of the matched DC parcel polygon in WGS84.
When Was Turkish Ambassador’s Residence Built?
Constructed: 1915. Record status: verified. HABS DC-258, history section. HABS records construction from August 1910 to June 1915; the inspector described it as 99 percent complete on 4 June 1915. CAMA lists 1911 as the original year; the historical construction record gives a later completion. Record reviewed on 2026-10-23.
Who Designed Turkish Ambassador’s Residence?
Architect: George Oakley Totten Jr.. Record status: verified. Record reviewed on 2026-10-23.
What Is the Floor Area of Turkish Ambassador’s Residence?
Floor area: 25,900 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC CAMA living gross building area Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Site Area of Turkish Ambassador’s Residence?
Site area: 12,700 sq ft. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2507/0051. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the 2026 Value of Turkish Ambassador’s Residence?
2026 Value: $16.3M. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 2507/0051. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
Sources
- Edward Everett House (Turkish Embassy), HABS DC-258
PDF pages 5–7 (printed HABS pages 3–5): deed, construction, and architect; PDF pages 11–12 (printed HABS pages 9–10): Turkish lease, former address, and purchase.
- The Turkish Ambassador’s Residence in Washington: Everett House history
Residence history: chancery relocation in 1999 and continuing residence function
- Rhythms of Resistance and Resilience
Section Jazz performance at the Turkish Embassy, c. 1940
- Embassy Reaffirms Ties Established by Ertegun Brothers
September 2, 2010 statement, Namık Tan's Howard Theatre groundbreaking remarks
- DC commercial CAMA building record — square 2507, lot 0051
- DC current property assessment — square 2507, lot 0051
- DC record-lot geometry — square 2507, lot 0051
- Property audit: Turkish Ambassador’s Residence — 2026 Value
- Property audit: Turkish Ambassador’s Residence — Floor area
Related Reading
Cite This Article
Edward H. Everett House. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record version e90ecac8a84d139ac246.