The Sewall-Belmont House is one of the oldest residential properties on Capitol Hill and has been a center of political life in Washington for more than 200 years.
It is located at the corner of Constitution Avenue and Second Street, NE, across the street from the Supreme Court and next to the Hart Senate Office Building.
It is architecturally significant for its early construction date and location as well as the alterations that reflect both the changing tastes of its owners and the changing architectural styles in the city of Washington over the years.
Photograph of the side of the Sewall-Belmont House and the two townhouses that were torn down when the Hart Senate Office Building was built. The National Woman's Party owned all three houses.
Periods of Construction
Four periods have been identified:
1. Original Construction (circa, 1800, 1820)
2. Stylistic Modifications (circa 1880)
The pitched roof was altered to the current mansard style with dormers, possibly in 1879. In 1881 an entry portico was built which may have been necessary due to the lowering of the street grade in the 1870s. The stained glass fanlight probably was added around this time.
3. Porter Dale (1922–1929)
During his occupancy, all areas of the building were modified and several window openings were added. It was reported that the Dales planted a rose garden containing 500 bushes.
4. National Woman's Party (1929–present)
The NWP removed the entry portico and added several window openings and bathrooms to accommodate their need for living quarters and offices. Their most significant alteration was the conversion of the carriage house to the Florence Bayard Hilles Library.
Designations
The historic and architectural significance of the Sewall-Belmont House is illustrated by the special recognition it has received from preservation agencies and organizations over the past forty years.
1964: Washington, DC Inventory of Historic Sites
1972: National Register of Historic Places
1974: National Historic Landmark - designated by the Secretary of the Interior
1974: National Historic Site - selected by Congress and placed under the auspices of the National Park Service for its restoration and maintenance
1998: President's Commission - named an outstanding national heritage site
1999: Save America's Treasures - chosen by Congress as one of only four projects named in the original Save America's Treasures legislation along with the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Star Spangled Banner
2005: HGTV Restore America site - chosen by Home & Garden Television as one of 12 historic sites to receive a grant and national recognition for its restoration efforts
From Sewall-Belmont House Historic Structure Report, Executive Summary, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Associates