Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
7 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
8 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
9 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
10 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Prospect House

Prospect House

An 18th-century townhouse that once hosted guests of the president.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Prospect House   APK/ CC BY-SA 4.0
Prospect House   APK/ CC BY-SA 4.0
Prospect House   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Prospect House   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Prospect House   Jack E. Boucher
Interior view of Prospect House entrance hall   Jack E. Boucher
Prospect House garden and gazebo   Jack E. Boucher
Prospect House   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Also known as Lingan-Templeman House, this historic residence is a late 18th-century freestanding Georgian mansion that once served as a guest house for visiting dignitaries and other guests of the president while the Blair House, which was usually used for such purposes, underwent renovations.

The stately home was designed by architect William Thornton, who also designed the U.S. Capitol building. Visitors to the house included President John Adams, and Gilbert du Motier, the marquis de Lafayette. The property on which Prospect House stands was purchased by General James Maccubin Lingan in 1788. Lingan was one of the 19 original proprietors who signed the agreement for the establishment of the District of Columbia.

It is believed that Prospect House was built during the five years that Lingan owned the property, which he sold in 1793 to John Templeman, a prominent Bostonian transplant and overseer of the construction of Georgetown Bridge, which spanned the Potomac River.

The house remained in Templeman's family until 1858, when it was sold to Dr. Thomas T. Mann, who sold it to William Templeton a mere two years later. In the space of a year, Templeton added an "octagonal protuberance" and third story to the house before flipping it to Civil War General William H. Whiton.

Other notable owners of the house include Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, Congressman Richard Thurmond Chapman and his wife Patricia Firestone Coyner, and David and Carol Ann Shapiro. The grounds feature gardens, a veranda, a gazebo, and a pool, and there is a remarkable U-shaped stairway that runs from the first floor through the third floor inside the house. 

Related Tags

Politics History Houses

Know Before You Go

Prospect House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1972. 

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

March 13, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Prospect House
3508 Prospect St NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20007
United States
38.905722, -77.069465
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Capital Transit Co. Streetcar Barn

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Exorcist Stairs

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Georgetown's Haunted Halcyon House

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Capital Transit Co. Streetcar Barn

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Exorcist Stairs

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Georgetown's Haunted Halcyon House

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 49

Related Places

  • William Paca House

    Annapolis, Maryland

    William Paca House And Garden

    This Annapolis home was built by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

  • Dodona Manor

    Leesburg, Virginia

    Dodona Manor

    Named for a Greek oracle that interpreted the words of Zeus, this beautifully-restored manor home was once home to the architect of the Marshall Plan.

  • James K Polk Historic Site

    Pineville, North Carolina

    James K. Polk Historic Site

    These cabins mark the site where our 11th president was born (probably).

  • The house with a friendly sky.

    Lancaster, New Hampshire

    The Weeks Estate

    The summer estate of John Weeks offers dazzling views and a moose captured by Theodore Roosevelt.

  • Casa de la Independencia exterior.

    Asunción, Paraguay

    Casa de la Independencia

    The fighters and conspirators that won independence for Paraguay held secret meetings at this historic house.

  • Revolution House.

    Old Whittington, England

    Revolution House

    A secret meeting in this small cottage changed the course of British history.

  • Butch Cassidy’s cabin in the Chubut Province of Argentina

    Cushamen, Argentina

    Butch Cassidy's Cabin

    With the Wild Bunch hunted almost to extinction and the law closing in on him, Butch Cassidy fled to this remote cabin in Argentina.

  • Frederick Douglass’s House, Cedar Hill

    Washington, D.C.

    Frederick Douglass's House, Cedar Hill

    The famous abolitionist’s preserved estate is one of Washington's finest monuments to its great Black citizens.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.