McCormick House (Washington, D.C.)

Last updated
McCormick House
Brazilian-residence-dc044.jpg
Location3000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Coordinates 38°55′7.27″N77°3′36.88″W / 38.9186861°N 77.0602444°W / 38.9186861; -77.0602444 Coordinates: 38°55′7.27″N77°3′36.88″W / 38.9186861°N 77.0602444°W / 38.9186861; -77.0602444
Built1928-1931
Architect John Russell Pope (1874-1937)
Architectural style Neoclassical
Part of Massachusetts Avenue Historic District (ID74002166 [1] )
Designated CPNovember 26, 1973 [2]

McCormick House is the current residence of the Brazilian ambassador to the United States. It is located at 3000 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the Embassy Row neighborhood.

Contents

History

The design of the house was first commissioned in 1908 to well known American architect John Russell Pope (1874-1937) by diplomat Robert Sanderson McCormick (1849-1919) and wife, Katherine Etta ("Kate") Medill McCormick (1853-1932). Both Robert and Katherine hailed from well-heeled backgrounds, being members of a Nouveau Riche class of nineteenth century Americans that came into sudden wealth as the nation industrialized. Married to Robert in 1876, Katherine hailed from a prominent Chicago family which included her father Joseph Medill (1823-1899), the co-owner of the "Chicago Tribune" and one-term mayor of Chicago following the Great Fire of 1871. The McCormick side of the future McCormick-Medill publishing dynasty came into money through the business successes of Robert's father Cyrus McCormick, the inventor of the revolutionary McCormick reaper machine which transformed American and world agriculture.

The McCormick - Pope mansion was not completed until 1931, 23 years after the commencement of construction. [3]

The Brazilian embassy purchased the Neoclassical architectural style home in 1934, three years after it was completed, for two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). [4] Brazil was the second nation after the United Kingdom to have an embassy on what is today Embassy Row. In 1971, a new chancery was constructed next door. The very modernist mirrored glass walled structure was designed by famous Brazilian architect Olavo Redig de Campos (1906-1984).

Related Research Articles

Dupont Circle United States historic place

Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighborhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. The Dupont Circle neighborhood is bounded approximately by 16th Street NW to the east, 22nd Street NW to the west, M Street NW to the south, and Florida Avenue NW to the north. Much of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the local government Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the Dupont Circle Historic District have slightly different boundaries.

John Russell Pope American architect

John Russell Pope was an American architect whose firm is widely known for designing major public buildings, including the National Archives and Records Administration building, the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art, all in Washington, DC.

Graceland Cemetery Historic cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, US

Graceland Cemetery is a large historic garden cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road. Among the cemetery's 121 acres (49 ha) are the burial sites of several well-known Chicagoans.

Embassy Row Informal name for the section of Massachusetts Avenue NW

Embassy Row is the informal name for a section of Northwest Washington, D.C. with a high concentration of embassies, diplomatic missions, and diplomatic residences. It spans Massachusetts Avenue N.W. between 18th and 35th street, bounded by Scott Circle to the south and the United States Naval Observatory to the north; the term is often applied to nearby streets and neighborhoods that also host diplomatic buildings, such as Kalorama.

Robert R. McCormick American lawyer, Army officer & newspaperman

Robert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick was an American lawyer, businessman and anti-war activist.

Cissy Patterson American novelist

Eleanor Josephine Medill "Cissy" Patterson, Countess Gizycki was an American journalist and newspaper editor, publisher and owner. Patterson was one of the first women to head a major daily newspaper, the Washington Times-Herald in Washington, D.C.

Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington, D.C. British sovereigns diplomatic mission to the United States of America

The British Embassy, Washington D.C. is the British sovereign's diplomatic mission to the United States of America, representing the interests of the United Kingdom and British Government. It is located at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The embassy compound includes the chancery offices, as well as the British Ambassador's residence.

Embassy of Brazil, Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of Brazil in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the United States of America.

Ruth Hanna McCormick Politician, activist and publisher

Ruth Hanna McCormick, was an American politician, activist, and publisher. She served one term in the United States House of Representatives, winning an at-large seat in Illinois in 1928. She gave up the chance to run for re-election to seek a United States Senate seat from Illinois. She defeated the incumbent, Senator Charles S. Deneen, in the Republican primary, becoming the first female Senate candidate for a major party. McCormick lost the general election. A decade later, she became the first woman to manage a presidential campaign, although her candidate, Thomas E. Dewey, failed to capture his party's nomination.

Robert Sanderson McCormick American diplomat (1849–1919)

Robert Sanderson McCormick was an American diplomat. Born in rural Virginia, he was part of the extended McCormick family that became influential in Chicago.

Medill McCormick American publisher, Congressman, and US Senator (1877-1925)

Joseph Medill McCormick was part of the McCormick family of businessmen and politicians in Chicago. After working for some time and becoming part owner of the Chicago Tribune, which his maternal grandfather had owned, he entered politics.

Andrew Mellon Building United States historic place

McCormick Apartments, also known as Andrew Mellon Building, Mellon Apartment, or 1785 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, is a landmark apartment building on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., whose inhabitants once included Andrew W. Mellon. It is the home of the American Enterprise Institute.

Embassy of Uzbekistan, Washington, D.C. Diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States

The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C.,, is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States. The current ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States is Djavlon Vahabov. The embassy is located at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., between Scott Circle and Dupont Circle. Constructed in 1909, the Clarence Moore House is an example of Beaux Arts architecture in blond Roman brick with limestone dressings; it was used by the Canadian government until the 1980s. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on April 3, 1973. The building is also designated a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District and Dupont Circle Historic District, which are both listed on the NRHP.

George Oakley Totten Jr. American architect

George Oakley Totten Jr., was one of Washington D.C.’s most prolific and skilled architects in the Gilded Age. His international training and interest in architectural decoration led to a career of continuous experimentation and stylistic eclecticism which is clearly evident in many of his works. The mansions he designed were located primarily on or near Dupont, Sheridan, and Kalorama circles and along 16th Street, N.W., near Meridian Hill. Most now serve as embassies, chanceries, or offices for national or international organizations, their important public or semi-public functions, combined with their urbanistically integrated close-in locations, make them particularly visible exemplars of Washington's peculiar mixture of turn-of-the-century political and social life.

McCormick family

The McCormick family of Chicago and Virginia is an American family of Scottish and Scotch-Irish descent that attained prominence and fortune starting with the invention of the McCormick Reaper, a machine that revolutionized agriculture, helped break the bonds of slavery, and established the modern grain trade by beginning the mechanization of the harvesting of grain. Through the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and later, the International Harvester Company and other investments, the McCormicks became one of the wealthiest families in America. The name became ubiquitous in agriculture starting in the 19th century and the press dubbed the McCormicks the "Reaper Kings". Later generations expanded into media and publishing, finance, and real estate. Various family members were well known as civic leaders. They are descended from an influential leader of modern agriculture, inventor Robert McCormick Jr. (1780–1846), and Mary Ann "Polly" Hall of Steeles Tavern, Virginia. The family is Presbyterian.

Embassy of Chile, Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of Chile in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Chile to the United States. It is located at 1732 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Embassy Row neighborhood. The embassy has been located there since 1973.

Embassy of Indonesia, Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States. It is located at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Embassy Row neighborhood. Indonesia has five consulate generals in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco, and an honorary consulate in Honolulu. There is also a permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.

Embassy of Ireland, Washington, D.C. Diplomatic mission of Ireland to the United States

The Embassy of Ireland in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission of Ireland to the United States. It is located at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., at Sheridan Circle, in the Embassy Row neighborhood.

British Ambassadors residence in Washington, D.C. United States historic place

The British Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. is located at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the Embassy Row neighborhood.

Frederick H. Brooke American architect

Frederick H. Brooke was an American architect from Washington, D.C., who designed houses, schools, churches, and embassies during his 40 year career. A native of Pennsylvania, Brooke studied in the US and France before opening his practice in the nation's capital. He served overseas during World War I and would later design a memorial in West Potomac Park which honors local soldiers. He was an active member in several professional organizations, most notably the American Institute of Architects. Brooke's wife, Henrietta, served as president of the Girl Scouts in the 1930s. Among Brooke's notable works are Dumbarton Oaks, the District of Columbia War Memorial, the Sulgrave Club and the British Ambassador's residence, which he codesigned with Edwin Lutyens.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/74002166_text
  3. "Brasilemb.org". www.brasilemb.org.
  4. "Residence of the Ambassador of Brazil (McCormick House) in Washington, DC". 16 May 2006.