First Floor Plan

Thomas Peter, son of the first mayor of Georgetown, and his wife Martha Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington, purchased an 81/2-acre city lot in 1805 with an $8,000 legacy from George Washington. A grand residence was designed on the land to overlook the Potomac River by Dr. William Thornton, a self-taught architect whose other Washington buildings include the first United States Capitol and The Octagon. A National Historic Landmark, Tudor Place is known nationally and internationally as a premier example of American neoclassical architecture.

During 179 years of single-family ownership, an impressive collection of European and American decorative arts were amassed. Highlights include over 100 objects originally belonging to George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon, an outstanding 19th- century American silver collection, and dozens of sets of porcelain family table settings. An extensive collection of furniture, glassware, sculpture, portraits, prints, and textiles tell the story of each generation. The house, furnishings and grounds are well documented by a remarkable archival collection including letters, diaries, books, bills, and photographs.

In 1852 the elderly Martha Peter wrote: "It is my wish that you should find Tudor a happy home. And perhaps in after life, when you look back - you will think that you had as few cares, or troubles while here, as you could expect in this world of change." While many Peter family members once lived at Tudor Place, four family members owned the property, cherishing and preserving it through peaceful and turbulent times. Britannia Peter Kennon, daughter of Thomas and Martha Peter, was mistress during the Civil War. She knew both her grandson, Armistead Peter, Jr., who became the third owner, and his son, Armistead Peter 3rd, who was the last family owner of Tudor Place. He established a charitable foundation to preserve Tudor Place and educate the public about American history.

Tour the Garden

Bowling Green  |   Tennis Lawn  |   Flower Knot  |   Boxwood Ellipse  |   Japanese Tea House Tulip Poplar

Thomas Peter, a landowner and tobacco merchant, and his wife, Martha Custis Peter, grandaughter of Martha Washington, purchased 8 1/2 acres on the outskirts of Georgetown in 1805. Today, the remaining 5 1/2 acres of this unique garden maintain much of the original Federal period design. In the early-19th century the family had many different requirements for the land including orchards, vegetable gardens, a stable, and grazing land for cows and horses. Six successive generations of the Peter family cared for and embellished the landscape as Georgetown and the Federal City grew around them. The last owner, Armistead Peter 3rd, completed major projects during the mid-20th century that shaped the gardens we see today.