Elliott Coues House facts for kids
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Elliott Coues House
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 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1726 N Street, NW, Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | c. 1880 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002049 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | May 15, 1975 |
The Elliott Coues House is a special old house in Washington, D.C.. It's located at 1726 N Street NW, in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. This house was built around 1880.
It was once the home of Elliott Coues (1842-1899). He was a very important historian and a scientist who studied birds. Coues lived here from about 1887 until he passed away. He helped start the American Ornithologists' Union in 1883. He also edited many books about famous Western explorers. This house is so important that it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
Contents
About the House
Where is the Elliott Coues House?
The Elliott Coues House is in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C. It sits on the south side of N Street. You can find it west of Scott Circle, between 17th and 18th Streets.
What Does the House Look Like?
This house is one of two similar buildings made of painted brick. They were likely built around 1880. Coues' house is simpler than the other one. It has 3-1/2 stories and a roof with dormer windows. It also has a tall basement.
The front of the house is three sections wide. The left two sections stick out a bit. The main entrance is on the right side of the basement level. It has decorative columns and a frame that goes up to the first-floor window. The building is interesting because of its history, not its fancy design.
Who Was Elliott Coues?
His Early Life and Army Days
Elliott Coues was born in New Hampshire. He served in the United States Army from 1862 to 1881. Even while in the Army, he loved studying birds. This was his passion outside of his military duties.
A Scientist and Explorer
From 1873 to 1876, Coues worked in the Pacific Northwest. He was a surveyor and naturalist for the U.S. Northern Boundary Commission. In 1880, he became a secretary and naturalist for a group that later became the United States Geological Survey.
In this role, he edited and published many important writings. These documents told stories about the "Old West" and its early days. He helped preserve a lot of history.
Founding the American Ornithologists' Union
In 1883, Elliott Coues helped create the American Ornithologists' Union. This group is still very important for bird scientists today. He also taught anatomy at Columbia University. He was a truly dedicated scientist and historian.
