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1864
The Morrison-Clark Inn, Washington, D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia
1011 L Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
Original Property Opened in 1864
Historic Hotels of America member since 1989
presidential
memorabilia
gardens
The Morrison-Clark Inn, Washington, D.C. was built as two separate residences in 1864, owned separately by the Morrison and Clark families. The homes were purchased by the Women’s Army and Navy League who combined and converted them into the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Club, an inexpensive place for the enlisted to stay as they passed through the nation’s capital. It was a gathering place for high society women, including every first lady from Grace Coolidge to Nancy Reagan, who hosted silver teas and Sunday coffee. The Inn opened in 1987 following renovations by William Adair who supervised renovations of The White House. In 2015, the Morrison-Clark Historic Inn expanded into an adjacent former Chinese church and historic townhouse. The historic Washington hotel doubled in size and boasts Asian-Victorian décor.
Discover
- Discover the Victorian charm of the Morrison-Clark Historic Inn, the only inn in the nation’s capital to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Admire the original Carrera marble floors and fireplaces, wrought iron ceiling medallions, 12-feet-tall mahogany pier mirrors, and a collection of 19th-century art throughout this historic hotel.
- Marvel at the sitting room located just off the main lobby, which features intimate seating around the restored fireplace within its exposed brick walls. The former brick parsonage of the Chinese Community Church now serves as the location of this quiet retreat.
- Admire the two-story Carriage House, the most historic structure on the grounds of this historic hotel, and gaze at the painted brick façade. Enjoy a stay in this historic two-level guestroom suite.
Explore
- Take a look at the White House, the people’s house and the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States, which is located at the most iconic address in the city, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Admire the Neoclassical architecture.
- Walk through the architecturally stunning United States Capitol Building and admire the Brumidi Corridors and historic Capitol Dome. Sit in the Senate or House galleries and watch Congress in session, then head outside and look at the Statue of Freedom that crowns the dome.
- Explore the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, a 163-acre zoo that is free and open to the public 364 days a year. The zoo boasts more than 2,000 individual animals representing nearly 400 distinct species. Visitors can see animals, learn about the wildlife and conservation, and enjoy the gorgeous gardens. The zoo also serves as a veterinary hospital as well as a research, conservation, and education center for endangered species.
Experience
- Experience local National Trust for Historic Preservation historic sites and discover great architecture, magnificent landscapes, and life-changing stories. These sites include the Decatur House on Lafayette Square, the President Woodrow Wilson House, President Lincoln’s Cottage, the Belle Grove Plantation, and James Madison’s Montpelier.
- Tour Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, located on the same location in historic Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Woodlawn is a 126-acre estate that was designed by the architect of the U.S. Capitol, Dr. William Thornton, and constructed for Washington’s nephew, Major Lawrence Lewis. The Usonian Pope-Leighey House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as an example of innovative, modern, and affordable middle-class housing.
- Stroll through Oatlands Historic House and Gardens in Leesburg, Virginia, located between Washington and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Once part of the extensive Carter family plantation holdings, the new Reclaim Your Story exhibit tells stories of African American history at Oatlands.
Taste
- Enjoy a meal at the Morrison-Clark Restaurant, the signature restaurant of this historic inn, in a Victorian parlor setting. Enjoy classic American cuisine with a fresh twist and take in the floor-to-ceiling windows, original Italian marble fireplaces, gilded mirrors, and 12-foot-tall ceilings accented with elegant crystal chandeliers in the main dining room.
- Taste a sumptuous breakfast at Old Ebbitt Grill to see powerbrokers, members of Congress, and lobbyists peppering the booths, devouring their breakfasts, and taking their morning meetings.
- Bite into an original half-smoke sausage at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a casual eatery that has played host to jazz legends Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald, and was popularized by President Barack Obama.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Best Available Rate
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
