The Octagon House as Madison's temporary residence

The Octagon House at 1799 New York Avenue NW served as the temporary presidential residence of James and Dolley Madison after the White House was burned in 1814. Built beginning in 1799, the house is a surviving early-19th-century urban mansion that now operates as a historic house museum interpreting its architectural history and role in national events. The Octagon is used for public tours and educational programming tied to Washington’s early federal-era history.