Georgetown, Washington, D.C. — Evermay Estate, host to American presidents, international diplomats, and world-renowned dignitaries, is being offered for sale at the price of $49 million. The historic home, whose beginnings are just a year younger than the capital itself, is sited on approximately 3.5 park like acres in the heart of Georgetown, with commanding views of Rock Creek Park and the Washington Monument. Evermay is represented by Long & Foster’s Extraordinary Properties® Division. Christie’s Great Estates will provide premier international marketing services.
Evermay, a grand two-and-one-half-story brick mansion, is renowned for the elegance and grace of its Federalist architecture, its spectacular open gardens and terraces, and its magnificent fountains. This landmark estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is widely recognized as one of the “Great Homes” within the Georgetown Historic District. The northern grounds of the White House, the Treasury Building, the Old Executive Office Building, and Lafayette Square are on lands that were part of the original 150-acre Evermay estate.
The history of Evermay is intertwined with the evolution of Washington D.C. In 1791, George Washington commissioned French architect and engineer Pierre L’Enfant to design the U.S. capital at its new location. A year later, businessman Samuel Davidson purchased prime acreage in what would become Georgetown, and selected an exceptional hillside setting for the site of his home. Both L’Enfant and Davidson turned to architect Nicholas King to execute their visions for the city of Washington and Evermay.
Begun in 1801, the main residence at Evermay reflects the shift from the Georgian tradition to the Adamesque Federal architecture style that would take hold as the new Republic evolved. Originally constructed as a two-and-one-half-story formal brick manor with an attached kitchen wing, the estate has undergone a number of meticulous restorations. Diplomat F. Lammot Belin, the fifth owner of Evermay, proved to be its greatest steward. He purchased the property in 1923 and began a painstaking renovation to reinstate the original integrity and charm of Evermay, including development of the unique terracing that overlooks the city, and the glorious fountains. The estate, located at 1623 28th Street N.W., has remained in the Belin family for three generations.
Today the main residence of Evermay consists of a two-and-one-half-story main block, a two-story hyphen, and two-story end wings. Magnificent Federal-period doorways adorn the north and south façades—the tympanum in the north doorway is filled with an exquisite wooded scalloped sunburst. Palladian windows and recessed panels between the first and second floor windows add to the property’s architectural delights. Evermay’s grand interiors exude sophisticated refinement and historic grace, much of it a reflection of “Mott” Belin’s world travels. An expansive first-floor formal drawing room and a dazzling ballroom have played host to numerous grand receptions throughout Evermay’s rich history.
Georgetown is an iconic international address and is home to diplomats and embassies from around the world. First settled in 1751, this independent village in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., is a living reflection of the early years of the American Republic. U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy called Georgetown home. Today, the town is a hub for the city’s finest restaurants and high-end shops.
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“Long & Foster is extremely pleased to have been chosen to represent this unprecedented and historic Georgetown offering,” says P. Wesley Foster Jr., Chairman and CEO of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. “We are putting the combined strength of Long & Foster and Christie’s Great Estates to work to present Evermay on the local and international level as no other real estate company can.”
“A Washington landmark, otherwise promoted as America’s Living Room, with elegant architecture, landscaped gardens, and sweeping views of our nation’s capital, Evermay is one of the Greatest Estates of all time,” says Kathleen Coumou, Christie’s Great Estates Vice President for the Northeast Region. “It is a privilege to be representing a property of such significance in one of the most historic neighborhoods of Washington D.C.”
About Christie’s Great Estates
Christie’s Great Estates is the largest international network of real estate companies dedicated to the sale and marketing of luxury homes and is a subsidiary of Christie’s, the world’s leading art business. Christie’s clients who buy and sell works of art often request real estate services. To satisfy this demand, Great Estates, founded by Kay Coughlin in 1987, was acquired by Christie’s in 1995. Today, the Christie’s Great Estates global network spans more than 40 countries with 850 offices and approximately 35,000 brokers. Committed to the auction house’s two-century-old tradition of exceptional customer service and expertise in high-value marketing, the network achieved total combined sales in excess of $125 billion.
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Admittance to the Christie’s Great Estates network is offered by invitation only to those real estate companies with proven records of success in high-value home sales and who exemplify Christie’s traditional value of service. Once awarded affiliate status, brokers may then display the coveted Christie’s brand and use the proprietary marketing services of Christie’s Great Estates, which has successfully marketed high-value real estate around the globe for more than 20 years. Exceptionally skilled local real estate specialists, a client-focused approach, and strategic global marketing to a qualified audience of proven luxury consumers are the hallmarks of Christie’s Great Estates.
About The Long & Foster® Companies
Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc. is the largest privately-owned real estate firm in America. The firm has more than 235 residential real estate sales offices throughout Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and North Carolina, with more than 14,000 sales associates and annual real estate sales for 2007 of $35.4 billion on 95,871 properties sold. Prosperity Mortgage® Company, Long & Foster Insurance, and Long & Foster Settlement Services are also part of The Long & Foster Companies. 2007 sales for all the Long & Foster Companies totaled $61 billion worth of homes, mortgages, insurance, title insurance, and settlement services.
