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 |
| Designated CP | July 21, 1978 |
The L. Ron Hubbard House is a special museum located at 1812 19th Street NW in Washington, D.C.. It is in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. This building is a "writer's house museum," meaning it shows where a famous writer lived or worked.
This house was once the office of the Founding Church of Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard, who started Scientology, had his personal office here from 1956 to 1961. He even performed the very first Scientology wedding in this building. Today, you can take public tours to learn about its history.
In 2022, the L. Ron Hubbard House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. It was also listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites a few months before that. The house is also part of the larger Dupont Circle Historic District, which is also a historic area.
Contents
History of the House
Building the Homes
The row of houses at 1810–1820 19th Street NW was built in 1904. A local architecture company called Wood, Donn, & Deming designed them. John N. Nolan was the builder. Each house was sold for $17,000 back then. The first owner of 1812 19th Street NW was Arvine W. Johnston. Important people who lived in the house in the early 1900s included United States Senators James K. Jones and Claude A. Swanson.
Hubbard's Time at the House
L. Ron Hubbard bought the house in 1955. In 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. Other Scientology groups also used the L. Ron Hubbard House. On December 20, 1958, Hubbard performed the first Scientology wedding here.
Later Events and Restoration
In January 1963, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) visited the Academy's location. They took more than 100 "e-meters" and many books. E-meters are electronic devices used by Scientologists. This event led to a legal case between the FDA and the Founding Church. In 1971, they reached an agreement. It said that all e-meters must have a clear warning label. The items taken were returned to the church in October 1973.
The Founding Church sold the house in the mid-1970s. After that, people lived in it 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 make it look like it did before. In 2022, the owners asked for the building to be recognized as a historic landmark. This was because of its connection to L. Ron Hubbard and the Founding Church. The request was approved. The house was added to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites on June 30, 2022. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 2022.
How the House Looks
The L. Ron Hubbard House has three stories. It is an example of eclectic Beaux-Arts architecture. This style mixes different design ideas. You can see parts of Mediterranean, Italianate, Georgian Revival, and Neoclassical styles.
The outside of the house is made of cream-colored brick. It has stone and wood decorations. Special features include a two-story bay window and a red-tiled roof. There is also a unique Flemish gable on the roof.
Inside the House
On the first floor, you will find the entrance area, foyer, and a parlor. The parlor is now a reception room. It has bay windows that look out onto 19th Street. There are fireplaces on this floor, including one that is original to the house. All the rooms on this floor are connected by a hallway. There is also a patio behind the building.
The second floor originally had two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a living room. The living room was L. Ron Hubbard's office. It also has a bay window that sticks out. 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 office space and meeting areas. The basement used to be a cellar. It was changed into an apartment in the 1970s.
Visiting the Museum Today
The museum opened in 2007. It took a year to renovate the building. The goal was to make it look like it did in 1957. Inside, you can see a recreated Hubbard Communications Office. There are also many books and papers about Hubbard's early life. You need to make an appointment to take a tour of the museum.
The museum describes itself as an important place. It says it is "the landmark location of the first Church of Scientology." It highlights where L. Ron Hubbard worked from 1957 to 1960. The museum also says his work influences human rights, religion, literature, and education.
What You See on a Tour
The tour starts in the parlor on the first floor. Here, you can see photographs of Hubbard's life. These pictures are displayed in two rooms. They do not include anything about Hubbard's challenges.
On the second floor, there are two rooms. They are used as a library and a reading room. They have furniture from the 1950s. You can see a briefcase and a globe that once belonged to Hubbard. There is also an outfit he wore, displayed in a glass case. The rooms also show framed degrees Hubbard received from Scientology organizations.
The top floor has photos of famous people connected to Scientology. It also shows pictures of the group's headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. A sign on this floor has a quote from Hubbard. It says, "A Scientologist is one who controls people, environments and situations." A video about Scientology is also played for guests on this floor. In the basement, you can see photographs Hubbard took of monuments in Washington, D.C. The basement also has a room where e-meter sessions are given.
As of 2023, the L. Ron Hubbard House is valued at $2,073,400. Since October 27, 2003, the building has been owned by Heritage Properties International. This company is part of Scientology's Church of Spiritual Technology.
See also
