The Octagon House - temporary post-1814 Executive Mansion

The Octagon House, now a historic house museum known as The Octagon, was completed in the early 19th century and served as the temporary presidential residence for James Madison and his family after the White House was burned in 1814. The site interprets early Washington life and the events surrounding the War of 1812 and is open for tours and educational programs. It is a less-visited historic property near the White House that many locals consider a discreet landmark of early federal-era Washington.