Old Stone House

This a very quaint place. It’s a shame that it’s the only pre-​Revolutionary place still standing in DC but that makes it all the more worth seeing. It has a great vibe to it, without trying to be anything more than a home, it emulates a certain magnificence. The garden in the back is also beautiful!

BACKYARD IS A GARDEN OASIS
Due to the timing of our approach, the little building was already closed which left us to merely wander the backyard area (free and easy to enter). If it gives you any idea, as soon as we stepped onto the path, we passed a young couple obviously taking engagement photos – this place is that sort of pretty.
NOT THAT BIG OR VARIED BUT…
We’re not talking about a Botanical Garden with signage explaining the different flora – but there was still something simple and delicate about the scene with each flower still grabbing attention. We passed more photographers with their lens pushed into the bushes. The space back there is also bigger than expected – more narrower – but definitely not a maze. It was just cool and nice break to see this much space dedicated to greenery amidst Gerogetown shops.

3.5 stars.
Having lived in Woodley park for 15 months I naturally found myself around here quite often as I showed family and friends the immediate areas nearby within walking distance. Having relocated to Friendship Heights I do not come as often to Gtown but upon revisiting the neighborhood for the first time in a while, I was reminded of the peaceful little house that provides shelter from the hustle and bustle of the shopaholics on M Street. Nothing fancy, just a peaceful place to rest your feet. But appreciated just the same.

Going out of my way to visit this place, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the mixed reviews on TripAdvisor. I’m so glad that I went through the hassle of traffic, parking, and trekking to catch a bit of history. I LOVED the kitchen, I can’t believe what cooks of those times had to work with it’s amazing they got anything done. The house is smallish, so it won’t take you long to see and the artifacts are not tied to the house (with 1 noted exception) but it’s a good free history lesson that gives you a better appreciation for modern conveniences. +1 star for being free!

Old curiosity shoppe historic site that’s free and has randomnities like hand made soap and pretty hand made jewelry. History is like air conditioning – it’s great when it is accessible and central.
There are multiple stories to this little stone house and the stairs will reinforce that the average height of a dude was 5’7″. You’ll see the children’s room which harkens back to a simpler time when a wooden ball on a wooden stick was an actual toy that could entertain kids for ostensibly hours.
You’ll also see a stove that will indicate the harshness of life when everything had to be worked for and earned. No 7−11s in the 18^th century.
If you’re in Georgetown, this is a must stop and see. It’ll take maybe 20 minutes and you won’t regret the choice.

What a beautiful little piece of history to have right in the heart of Georgetown.
This is the oldest pre-​Revoluntionary War home built in the DC metro area circa 1766. How cool to have gotten to explore this and learn about it. The park ranger on duty gave us the run down of the stone house came about…
It was originally a husband and wife’s home. The husband died, and the widow took procession. Once the woman remarried, her new husband made her sell the property to a second widow who then lived in the property for an additional 20 – 30 years and added on to the original 1 story dwelling. Once that widow passed, her daughter then inherited the house and added an additional third story from the 2 story house that was added on by the previous owners. The first two stories are made of solid stone, and the top story of the house is made of red brick. You can the transitions of the add ons from the outside. There is a lot more to the story, but what it really boils down to is that during these days it was a rarity that women owned property. This is a great example of where the norm was broken. It was not illegal then for women to own property back then, but it was not really heard of either since typically the men were in charge of the money, property, and so forth.
When you first enter is where the original house was. This room is large and is now the gift shop of the old stone house. When you proceed through the next door of the bottom floor is where you come into the kitchen. This is where the slaves would cook the meals and spend a great deal of the time. You from there ascend some stairs that lead you to the second story. During the 2^nd owner’s time, guests would enter from the second floor and where the would converse. There was actually a dumbwaiter from the kitchen to the 2^nd floor for meals to be delivered so the slaves would not actually have any interaction really with the guests.
The 2^nd floor holds a dining room and what seems to be 2 bedrooms. One of the bedrooms could have been used as a room for daily function more so than a bedroom, however, they’re set up to be bedrooms. In the dining room, the grandfather clock is the only original piece to the house. Everything else are reproductions and staged to show how the house could have looked during this time.
Once you go to the top floor, they had the room staged as a children’s room. Nothing much else is up there besides some toys and a straw bed. Still, it is pretty neat to think about how this was during that time period. There is also a closet in this room. During this time period, your wealth was based on how many closets you had in the house. They used to have a closet tax back during the Revolutionary period. If you had closets, they were considered extra rooms despite how small they were. Only after a certain time did they abolish the tax. But can you imagine getting taxed on having closets in your house? I know I would be broke paying on them if that was the case.
There is a beautiful side park beside old stone house. This area used to be used for cattle, pigs, and such. The garden itself is an Old English garden. Not something you would have found back during this period. This area was used more for necessity than for leisure.
The old stone house was given to the federal government in the 1950s. From there, they preserved the house and put it on the National Registry for Historic Places. They’re the ones who put in the beautiful garden that we can now enjoy and walk through. They have all different sorts of flowers in the garden. I really enjoyed the small white roses they had in bloom.
It is definitely worth checking out. It is wonderful that the building has stood around for so long and has endured the elements.

Compared to the other parts of Georgetown, this place is a relaxing spot. Take a break from all the walking or have a picnic here, you’ll like it: D

Leave your gun at home — you can’t bring it to the Old Stone House, as per the sign. Thank goodness I wasn’t strapped that day, otherwise I wouldn’t have found this charming little grassy oasis in the midst of all the hustle and bustle on M St. I walked by it initially — it’s really easy to miss — but came back since we were looking for a place to sit and enjoy the freakishly nice February weather. The park is essentially the backyard of the Old Stone House, and interestingly, the house itself is one of the oldest structures in DC. A little stone path area leads you to the grassy area with a few benches shaded by some trees. The area is stroller, family and date friendly — lots of young couples intimately sharing fro-​yo, and plenty of space for kids to safely run around. There aren’t any frills or bells and whistles here, but that is what’s so darling about it — a little taste of an enduring slice of history.

The most remarkable aspect of the Old Stone House may not be the house at all. I think it’s actually the lovely garden behind the house! At the back there is a splendid little bench where you can park yourself and enjoy the sunshine, your lunch or even take a conference call.
It’s a serene little spot to momentarily escape the mania of M Street.

A nice little museum, rumored to be haunted. Of course most of you reading this may not be interested in the supernatural, but I certainly am. A great fun, creepy place to visit while in Georgetown. It’s also the oldest building in DC.
P. S. But if you ARE interested in ghosts, look this place up. It’s in just about every haunted directoy there is.

If you’ve spent any time in Georgetown, you’ ve passed by this historic house a billion times. OK, maybe not a billion, but you get the idea.
What you may not realize (well, I didn’t know this) was that this is the oldest standing house in DC. It was built in the mid 1700’s. Back then, what is now M Street was called Bridge street which was still a main street as far as road traffic. The Stone House was initially a residence, a clock store, and paint shop among other things.
In nice weather, it is a great spot to hang out in the English gardens and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the bars and shops. Also, you can take a tour of the house with six rooms, all decorated in a colonial style.

The website for this historic site states that this humble old building «commemorates the daily lives of ordinary Americans who made this city, and this nation, unique».
Other people know this House as a spot for public urination and other such illegal activities, right in the heart of Georgetown’s bustling M street. There is a big, shady back yard, populated by Magnolia trees and rose bushes, and the rickety old fence that separates it from the sidewalk is never locked: go right in and make yourself at home.
The last time I was here, my associate and I needed to kill some time before a class reunion on M street. We had our pockets stuffed with cans of Busch, and decided to visit this historic site in order to enjoy our beers in peace, before entering the hectic and expensive world that is Georgetown nightlife. There was a cement bench, a lush lawn, and a Bobcat presiding over a hole in the ground. A perfect place for your own little party… just remember to BYOB.