Too stricken in body and spirit
to remain for the inauguration of his successor, Woodrow Wilson left the
capitol and motored to his new residence in the Kalorama
section of Washington, D.C. on March 4, 1921. To his surprise, several hundred
people were waiting to watch him enter the house where he would spend the
last three years of his life.
Each year, thousands still visit the final home of the twenty-eighth President.
The house remains for us today as it was when he lived here, a place for
insightful reflection on his career as educator, social reformer, and world
statesman.
Wilson House today and on Armistice Day, 1923
Built in 1915 by architect Waddy Wood, the house
is a fine example of the Georgian revival style. After purchasing
the property in 1921, Wilson and his wife Edith remodeled it to suit their
needs. The structure and its interior have been carefully preserved to reflect
the era of their residence here.
The Drawing Room
The remarkable collection offers
the visitor unique insights into the personality of one of America's greatest
leaders. On display are objects from the White House, family items, memorabilia,
and elaborate gifts of state from around the world.
In the scene at left, for example, is a mosaic of St. Peter, presented by
Pope Benedict XV to the Wilsons during their victory tour of Europe. A copy
of Edith Wilson's White House portrait hangs above the mantle.
The house is also a living textbook of "modern" American life in the 1920s
-- from sound recordings to silent films, flapper dresses, and zinc sinks.
The Dining Room
In the elegant dining room, the
Wilsons hosted family, friends, and world leaders. The fare was prepared
in a kitchen that documents the changes in domestic design during and after
World War I.
The Kitchen
Edith Wilson's Bedroom
On
the third floor, the principal bedrooms were on either side of an
open loggia from which Wilson could enjoy a view of the garden. In
these rooms today, personal and wardrobe items offer visitors an intimate
picture of the lives of the former President and the wife who so fiercely
protected him.
The Garden
Most tours are preceded by a video presentation, using historical
footage, that enables visitors to understand the house and artifacts in
the context of their time. Special exhibitions are also on view.
Arrange your tour!
My Third Leg: Woodrow Wilson’s Walking Sticks
THE PRESIDENTIAL DISH: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and the White House China Room 
Woodrow Wilson at 150 Years: On the Road to Augusta, GA 
Wilson House to Announce New Exhibition Program
“No temperance in it… ”Woodrow Wilson & the Prohibition Amendment