Metropolitan Hotel (Washington, D.C.)

The Metropolitan Hotel, located at Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street NW in Washington, D.C., was a prominent hotel from 1863 to 1933, originally built in 1850. Known for its brick and marble veneer architecture, it served as a gathering place for distinguished politicians, particularly from the Southern states. The site has a rich history, beginning as Woodward's Centre Tavern in 1802, where 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was reportedly sung for the first time. Over the years, it transformed from the Indian Queen Tavern to Brown's Hotel, before becoming the Metropolitan. The hotel was famous for its lively atmosphere, excellent cuisine, and notable guests, including Charles Dickens. Although the building was demolished in 1933, its legacy as a center of political and social life in 19th-century Washington endures.