Location

Visit this superb 1816 estate, a National Historic Landmark considered one of the foremost federal era mansions in America. Tudor Place was built by Martha Washington's granddaughter, Martha Custis Peter. The house, designed by William Thornton, was the home to six generations of the Peter family.

Family members and friends of the Peter family included such distinguished figures as George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Robert E. Lee. These associations, as well as the family life of the Peters through the generations, are depicted in the paintings and furniture as well as documents and other artifacts found in the house.

A round, temple-style portico with a domed roof and Tuscan columns dominates the exceptional south façade. On the sloping South Lawn, the gardens of Tudor Place reflect the continuity of the Peter family. The basic design of the Federal period remains and includes some of the trees and boxwoods planted by Martha Custis Peter herself. The “Flower Knot” box parterre is a 1920s re-creation of her original design. On the sloping South Lawn, subsequent family members embellished the grounds with extensive plantings and garden structures, sculpture, and fountains.