Tudor Place — Attraction in Washington

If you’re even slightly interested in history, absolutely go here. TLDR: Gorgeous home with knowledgeable tour guides, willing to tackle tough history while still making the information palatable with an adorable gift shop. I went last year (June 2024) during their exhibit about the history of the enslaved workers in the house. Our lovely tour guide not only gave our group context about the home, but centered it squarely on the enslaved workers, their stories and struggles, and where their descendants are now. They replaced the photos of the home owners with the enslaved workers for this exhibit, which I found touching. Any question I poised the tour guide tackled with incredible knowledge and depth, never making me feel silly for inquiring. The tour was around an hour, seeing most areas of the home and marveling in their architectural beauty. The home wasn’t air conditioned, but they provided fans and had electric fans blowing during the start of our tour. The tour ended in a big loop, so make sure to swing by the gift shop to look at their cute goodies. I also decided to stroll through their luscious gardens, which is an absolute must do. (Also the route walking to the house is gorgeous!) I cannot comment on their current exhibit as I’m back from DC, but I’m sure it’s to the high caliber of this one last year. This was incredibly informative on the changing DC landscape and on those who quietly keep the homes of the rich and powerful working. I...

When I asked for the price of the tour because I was confused by the "suggested donation" prices displayed at the front desk here is the response I got: "If you can look me in the eyes and you can swear that you can't afford it then you don't have to pay" (with a very rude tone that honestly left me speechless)

I would like to tell this lady that I'm sorry my family and I left, but we didn't really feel like staying after such an unwarranted and rude welcome.

It was so embarrassing because my family had come to visit me from abroad because I couldn't afford to go visit them as I was an intern only making 500$ a month and I was simply trying to show them the Georgetown area.

I fail to see how guilt tripping a young woman in front of her parents and her grandma would get you any donation.

I understand that donations are vital for the preservation of the place but who will give you their money if you talk to them like that? You don't know what people are going through, and there was definitely a better way to say that.

Oh and by the way a donation is supposed to be voluntary otherwise it's...

If you love history or architecture, add the Tudor Place to your DC itinerary. Here's why:

1. History: As one of the only historic mansions in the USA continuously owned by the same family, there's much to learn from it. The land where the house is built was purchased using the wedding gift money from George and Martha Washington by Martha's granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis. Because of the Washington connection, many objects inside come straight from Mt. Vernon, including, randomly, a desk from Francis Scott Key. Some items date back to 1660!

2. Space: It's a beautiful home with two floors, a gorgeous garden (just not in the winter), a garage, and a few other spaces on the property. The rooms are fascinating, especially seeing how they evolved as time went by. The guided tour will point these out throughout the main space.

If you love history and architecture, the small price to pay for a tour is definitely worth it. If you're not into these things or have small kids, you may not enjoy it as much as others. Still, if you want off-the-National-Mall museums, this is...