Living in History: 5 Great House Museums in Washington
Washington's most fascinating house museums allow visitors to relive history by roaming through rooms
Pope-Leighey House
Photography by Todd Franson
The Woodlawn Estate long ago shed all but 126 acres of Washington’s original 2,000. But a decade after buying the smaller tract of land, the National Trust for Historic Preservation more than doubled the property’s value, at least in the minds of Frank Lloyd Wright fans, by moving this masterfully designed modest home onto the Woodlawn grounds. Lauded as “the greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects, Wright built the L-shaped, 1,200 square-foot wooden home partly to prove that he could design an architecturally advanced yet affordable and practical home.
Named after the two families who resided in its original location in Falls Church, the Pope-Leighey House was set to become another victim of westward expansion — that is, the construction of Interstate 66 — until the Trust relocated it. Thirty years later, in 1995, the Trust would move it one last time, to more solid ground a mere 30 feet away. But a visitor wouldn’t be able to tell any of that just by looking at the house, perfectly nestled on its plot of land.
Even if your taste in architecture and house museums tends toward the older and bigger, chances are Pope-Leighey will prove the exception if you’re paying even half attention. Even after a pretty thorough 30-minute tour of the house by an expert guide such as Peter Christensen, you’ll want to hang back and linger longer, to pick up on yet another of one of Wright’s little details. Even if on occasion you disagree with his choices, the man thought of — and thought through — everything.
Woodlawn Plantation and the Pope-Leighey House are at 900 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Tickets are $15 for both. Call 703-780-4000 or visit woodlawnpopeleighey.org.
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