L. Ron Hubbard House facts for kids
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L. Ron Hubbard House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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L. Ron Hubbard House in 2009
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| Location | 1812 19th Street NW Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Wood, Donn, & Deming |
| Architectural style | Eclectic Beaux-Arts |
| Part of | Dupont Circle Historic District (ID78003056) |
| NRHP reference No. | 100008142 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 6, 2022 |
The L. Ron Hubbard House is a special museum in Washington, D.C.. It is located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. This building was once the home and office of L. Ron Hubbard. He was a writer who founded Scientology in the 1950s.
Today, the house is a museum where you can learn about Hubbard's life. It also shows how the early offices of the Founding Church of Scientology looked. This building is important because Hubbard performed the first Scientology wedding here. His personal office was in this house from 1956 to 1961.
In 2022, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This is a list of important historical sites in the United States. It was also added to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites. The house is part of the larger Dupont Circle Historic District, which is also on the NRHP.
Contents
History of the House
This house was built in 1904. It was part of a row of similar buildings. A local architecture company called Wood, Donn, & Deming designed them. Each house was sold for $17,000 back then. The first owner of 1812 19th Street NW was Arvine W. Johnston.
Later, important people lived in the house. These included United States Senators James K. Jones and Claude A. Swanson.
Hubbard's Time in the House
L. Ron Hubbard bought the house in 1955. This was the same year he started the Founding Church of Scientology. The church first met at a different location. Later, this house became home to the Academy of Scientology. It was also known as The Academy of Religious Arts and Sciences. Other Scientology groups also used the L. Ron Hubbard House.
Hubbard performed the first Scientology wedding here. This special event happened on December 20, 1958.
In 1963, a government agency called the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) visited the Academy. They took some e-meters and books. E-meters are electronic devices used by Scientologists. This led to a legal case. In 1971, the Church and FDA reached an agreement. It said that all e-meters needed a special warning label. The items were returned to the Church in 1973.
Later Years and Restoration
The Founding Church sold the house in the mid-1970s. After that, it was used as a regular home again. In 2004, a group called the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard bought the house back. They worked to fix it up and restore it.
In 2022, the owners asked for the building to be recognized as a historic landmark. This was because of its connection to Hubbard and the Founding Church. The request was approved. The house became a historic site in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2022. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 2022.
House Design and Style
The L. Ron Hubbard House has three stories. It is built in a style called eclectic Beaux-Arts architecture. This means it mixes different design ideas. You can see elements of Mediterranean, Italiante, Georgian Revival, and Neoclassical styles.
The outside of the house is made of cream-colored brick. It has stone and wood details. Some cool features include a two-story bay window. There is also a red-tiled roof and a special Flemish gable shape.
Inside the House
On the first floor, you'll find the entrance area and a parlor. The parlor is now used as a reception room. It has bay windows that look out onto 19th Street. There are fireplaces on this floor, including an original one. All the rooms on this floor connect through a hallway. There's also a patio behind the house.
The second floor used to have two bedrooms and a living room. The living room became Hubbard's office. It also has a bay window. One of the bedrooms was used as the Hubbard Communications Office. The third floor has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. These rooms are now used as offices and meeting areas. The basement was once a cellar. In the 1970s, it was changed into an apartment.
Visiting the Museum Today
The museum opened in 2007. Before opening, it was renovated for a year. The goal was to make it look like it did in 1957. The museum has a recreated Hubbard Communications Office. It also has books and information about Hubbard's early life. You can visit the museum by making an appointment.
The museum says it's "the landmark location of the first Church of Scientology." It highlights Hubbard's work and how it influences human rights, religion, and education.
What You See on a Tour
The tour starts in the parlor on the first floor. Here, you can see photos of Hubbard's life. On the second floor, there are two rooms. They are set up as a library and a reading room. They have furniture from the 1950s. You can also see a briefcase and a globe that belonged to Hubbard. There's even an outfit he once wore in a glass case. These rooms also show framed degrees Hubbard received.
The top floor has photos of famous people linked to Scientology. It also shows pictures of the group's main building in Clearwater, Florida. A sign with a quote from Hubbard is also there. In the basement, you can see photos Hubbard took of monuments in Washington, D.C. There's also a room where e-meter sessions are given.
The L. Ron Hubbard House is owned by Heritage Properties International. This company is part of Scientology's Church of Spiritual Technology. In 2023, the house was valued at over $2 million.
See also
