THE ESTATE: The extensive main house, designed in the Federal style, embodies the essence of Washington's past. The south façade is laid in Flemish bond, and the north façade is in American bond, The date Evermay's construction began, 1801, is recorded on the west façade's double chimney, The first floor is built around a center hall whose showpiece is an elegant stairway, Chair-rail moldings run along the hail. A graciously proportioned drawing room with 18th-Century English panelling features a mantelpiece of white marble interlaced with dark veins. Exquisite carved Chinese panels and fireplace mantelpieces lend an impressive aura to the dining room, which seats 40. Hardwood from Evermay's own black walnut trees was used to create the wideplank floors that imbue the main level with grace and beauty. A kitchen in the west wing is served by a pantry and staff quarters are nearby. Seventeen-foot-high ceilings and Palladian windows adorn the grand ballroom, which opens to the majestic terrace and garden.

THE GROUNDS: The visual centerpiece of the entry courtyard is a black marble fountain designed by Carl Milles, a Swedish sculptor. Six formal fountains enhance the gardens and grounds. Stone benches and a colonnade from France are ideal spots for relaxing and enjoying the vistas. The exquisitely landscaped grounds are resplendent with 32 species of trees along with rare shrubbery and flowers. A groundskeeper's cottage stands next to the main gate, and in the 1940s, an additional charming one-story building, now used as offices, was erected, its brick exterior - complementing the main house. Ample parking space for up to 100 vehicles is a further amenity.

THE HISTORY: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, Evermay was the creation of Samuel Davidson, a Scottish businessman who owned parts of the land on which stand the White House, Treasury, Lafayette Park, and Old Executive Office Building. To bring his idea to fruition, Davidson teamed up with a friend of Pierre L'Enfant, Nicholas King—a surveyor who also created a highly accurate map of the city. Planning for Evermay began in 1792. King also conceived a layout with formal gardens to the south of the property. Evermay went on to house a series of notable owners. Elizabeth Davidson, a descendent of Samuel Davidson, and her husband, the son of the prestigious Dodge family, inherited the estate. Starting in 1923 with diplomat F. Lammot Belin, chief of protocol for President Hoover, the Belin family has lovingly and attentively restored Evermay through a painstaking renovation, reinstating the original integrity and charm of this national treasure. With the assistance of experts, they reinforced the home's initial Federal construction and design elements. The brother-in-law of F. Lammot Belin, Pierre duPont, oversaw the gardens at Evermay and contributed plantings directly from his own famous Longwood Gardens, located just outside Philadelphia. Three generations of Belins have proven to be the greatest stewards of Evermay.
For more information, visit www.evermaydc.com.