The Lindens

The Lindens is the oldest house in Washington D.C. Prosperous merchant Robert "King" Hooper originally built it in 1754 in Massachusetts and it was moved here in 1934 by owners George and Miriam Morris. It is an exceptional example of Colonial-era architecture and the Morrises restored it to its original appearance. The house remains a private residence and is located in the Kalorama Heights neighborhood, which contains several embassies. The Lindens, which was was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, is named after the linden trees that grew around it in Massachusetts.

Robert Hooper was so wealthy that he earned the nickname "King" or "King Hooper" for his luxurious lifestyle. He built the house, which he called "The Great House," in 1754 in Danvers, Massachusetts, which is near Boston. Hooper built it as his summer house; for the rest of the year he lived in another house in the nearby town of Marblehead.

Hooper was a staunch supporter of the British monarchy. In 1774, he allowed the newly appointed governor of the colony and commander of British forces in Boston, Thomas Gage, to live in the house between June and September. It was Gage who, on April 19, 1775, ordered a British force to go to the towns of Lexington and Concord to seize military arms and supplies. The battles in both towns marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Despite being a being a loyalist, it appears Hooper was able to earn the respect of the Marblehead community after the war. When he died in 1790, the ships in the harbor displayed symbols of naval mourning.

The family owned the house until 1798 when a judge from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Benjamin Collins, bought it. It has remained a private residence ever since except for a short period when it was used as a school. The Morrises purchased it in August 1934 after looking for a Colonial-era home to house their collection of antique furniture. By then it had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. The Morrises dismantled and shipped it to Washington where, over the next 34 months, it was rebuilt and restored to its original appearance. The Morrises offered tours of the house and they estimated that around 60,000 people visited.

Miriam took an active role in every aspect of the project. She conducted extensive research on antique furnishings and architecture, and planned how to conceal lighting fixtures, phones, and a radio in a false bookcase. As a result of her work, she became an expert on restoration and lectured on the subject in the U.S. and abroad. She had other interests as well. In 1916 she designed a convertible that was built by a car manufacturer in Philadelphia. She was also the first woman to fly in a single-engine plane over Kaieteur Falls in the country of Guyana. She lived in the home until her death in 1982.

Kurzius, Rachel. "Photos: D.C.’s Oldest House Was Built Before The United States Was Founded." DCist. September 10, 2019. https://dcist.com/story/19/09/10/photos-d-c-s-oldest-house-was-built-before-the-united-states-was-founded.

"The Lindens." Atlas Obscura. May 18, 2020. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lindens.

"The Oldest House in Washington D.C." The House History Man. January 21, 2014. http://househistoryman.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-oldest-house-in-washington-dc.html.

Taylor, Nancy C. "The Lindens." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 4, 1969. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/e5a26146-6b46-4318-928d-c9c263cbf664.