Seven Buildings Historical Marker

This historical marker which was dedicated in 2010 by the Mexican Embassy recognizes the previous seven townhouses that stood here and were built between 1795 and 1796. The rowhouses were collectively known as the "Seven Buildings" and were built by General Walter Stewart (1756-1796), an officer in the American Revolution. The houses were among the earliest and most exclusive residential buildings in Washington. In 1814, President James Madison and his wife lived in the corner house that was located at 1901 Pennsylvania in the aftermath of the British army's destruction of the White House during the War of 1812. President Martin Van Buren also lived in the townhouses before and after his inauguration in 1837. The houses were eventually demolished and replaced with two modern buildings. However, the facades of two of the historic homes were saved and incorporated into the embassy, giving it a unique appearance.

The land on which the townhouses were built was first owned by land speculator James Greenleaf (1765-1843) and merchant Robert Morris (1789-1795), who bought it in 1793 as part of a large property consisting of 6,000 lots. Morris was a Founding Father of the United States and earned the nickname the "financier of the revolution." He also signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.

General Stewart bought seven lots on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1794 and completed the construction of the houses in 1796. They were among the first residences built in the District of Columbia and some of the finest as well. Another notable figure to reside at 1901 Pennsylvania was Eldridge Gerry (1744-1814), who lived there while he served as vice president from 1813 until his death in 1814. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1789-1793 and as governor of Massachusetts from 1810-1812. The political term "gerrymandering" was named after him. Union Generals George B. McClellan and Martin Davis Hardin used the Seven Buildings as their headquarters during the Civil War.

Over time, the houses were eventually occupied by businesses. The first to be torn down was 1913 Pennsylvania to make way for a new building. 1901 Pennsylvania became a pharmacy in 1910. In 1959, houses 1901-1907 Pennsylvania were demolished and replaced by an office building. The interiors of the last two (1909 and 1911 Pennsylvania) were gutted and incorporated into a new office building that is now the Mexican Embassy. As noted above, the facades of both were saved. The embassy affixed a plaque in 2010 to honor the site's history. However, it incorrectly states that the Department of State occupied one of the buildings. The Department of State was located in a building (from 1800-1801) that was part of another group of structures on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue known as the "Six Buildings" between 21st and 22nd Streets. None of those six structures exist today.

Hansen, Stephen A. "The Seven Buildings: Some of Washington DC's Earliest Townhouses Now Just a Billboard." Washington Chronicles. January 17, 2013. https://www.washingtonchronicles.com/2021/11/SevenBuildings.html.

"'The Seven Buildings' Erected c. 1795." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=89348.

"One of the “Six Buildings,” Washington September 1800-May 1801." Department of State, Office of the Historian. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/buildings/section21.