Newton D. Baker House facts for kids
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Newton D. Baker House
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | 3017 N St., NW, Washington, D.C. |
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| Built | 1794 |
| Architect | Thomas Beall |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002126 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | December 8, 1976 |
The Newton D. Baker House, also known as the Jacqueline Kennedy House, is a very old and important home in Washington, D.C.. It was built way back in 1794.
This house was once the home of Newton D. Baker. He was the Secretary of War (a top government official in charge of the army) from 1916 to 1920. During this time, he helped lead America's efforts in World War I.
Later, after President John F. Kennedy passed away in 1963, his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, bought this house. She lived here for about a year.
Because of its important history and famous residents, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976. This means it's a special place worth protecting!
The Story of This Historic Home
The Newton D. Baker House was built in 1794 by a person named Thomas Beall. Back then, the house sat on a very large piece of land. It even had a special section for servants on its east side. The street it's on, N Street, was called Gay Street back then. It was also higher up than it is today.
In 1796, a rich merchant named John Laird lived in the house. Later, Major George Peter bought it. He was a commander in the War of 1812 and a Maryland Congressman. He lived there until 1827. Then, John Laird bought the house again, this time for his son. In 1834, William Redin, an important auditor for District of Columbia, became the owner.
In 1868, Redin's daughter inherited the house and sold it. It then became the Georgetown Female Seminary, a school for girls. The school had many students, both those who lived there and those who came for the day. Around 1890, John H. Smoot bought the building and turned it back into a private home.
In 1915, Colonel William E. Pattison French bought the house. He started renting it to Newton D. Baker in 1916. When Baker moved back to Cleveland in 1920, French either rented out the house or lived there himself for over twenty years. During World War II, British military officers used the house.
After World War II, Vice Admiral Alan Kirk bought the property. He later became an Ambassador to Belgium and to the Soviet Union. Three years later, Dr. E. H. Gushing and his wife bought the home. They sold the old servants' wing as a separate house. The Gushings updated the main house. They improved the electrical system and plumbing. They also removed some inner walls to make the living room bigger.
In 1954, James McMillan Gibson bought the house. He added a small section at the back and put in an elevator. He lived there with his wife.
In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy bought the house. She moved in shortly after her husband, President John F. Kennedy, passed away in 1963. The Kennedy family lived in this home for about a year.
In 1965, Michael Whitney Straight bought the house from Jacqueline Kennedy. She moved to New York City. While living in the home, Straight married his second wife, Nina G. Auchincloss Steers, in 1974. Nina was Jacqueline Kennedy's stepsister! Straight and his wife spent a lot of money making the home even nicer. They moved to Bethesda, Maryland in 1976.
In 1976, Yolande Bebeze Fox, who was Miss America 1951, bought the home from Straight. Fox lived in the house until she passed away in February 2016.
What Makes This House Special?
The Newton D. Baker House looks a bit different from other old homes in Georgetown. It reminds people more of homes found in New England.
The house has many beautiful architectural details. These include a wide staircase made of limestone. It also has pink-painted stone frames around the windows with special wedge-shaped stones called keystones. You can also see brick voussoirs (wedge-shaped bricks) and Doric pilasters (flat columns). A lovely semi-elliptical fanlight (a window shaped like a half-circle with radiating bars) is also part of its design.
Who Lived Here? A Timeline
- 1794-1796 - Thomas Beall
- 1796-? - John Laird
- ?-1827 - George Peter
- ?-1834 - John Laird's son
- 1834-1868 - William Redin
- 1868-1890 - Georgetown Female Seminary
- 1890-1915 - John H. Smoot
- 1915-1916 - Col. William E. Pattison French
- 1916-1920 - Newton D. Baker
- 1920-1941 - Col. William E. Pattison French
- 1941-1945 - British military attache
- 1945-1948 - Vice Admiral Alan Kirk
- 1948-1954 - Dr. E. H. Gushing (who sold the old servant's wing to Stanley Woodward)
- 1954-1964 - James McMillan Gibson
- 1964-1965 - Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr.
- 1965-1976 - Michael Whitney Straight and Nina G. Auchincloss Steers
- 1974-2016 - Yolande Bebeze Fox
- 2017-present - David W. Hudgens, performed extensive renovations
