Warder-Totten House

Gazing up at the Warder-Totten House, have you ever wondered about its unique journey? This isn’t just any building. The Warder-Totten House holds the distinction of being the only remaining structure in Washington D.C. designed by the renowned architect, Henry Hobson Richardson. It’s a survivor, a testament to architectural ingenuity and the enduring power of history. Originally commissioned in 1885 by Benjamin H. Warder, a prominent farm equipment magnate, the house first stood at 1515 K Street NW. Richardson, known for his distinctive Richardsonian Romanesque style, created a masterpiece of heavy massing and unique fenestration, blending 11th and 12th-century European elements with medieval influences. The Warder-Totten House, constructed from smooth sandstone, stands apart from many other Richardsonian structures typically built with rough granite. Sadly, in 1923, progress threatened to erase this architectural gem. Plans for a new office building meant demolition for the Warder House. But fate, in the form of architect George Oakley Totten Jr., intervened. Totten purchased the exterior stone, much of the interior woodwork, and painstakingly transported the house piece by piece to its current location on 16th Street. Imagine, a Model T Ford carrying pieces of architectural history through the streets of Washington D.C.! Over two years, Totten reassembled the house, transforming it into an apartment building. In its new life, the Warder-Totten House served as home to the National Lutheran Council and the Antioch College of Law. After Antioch College moved out in 1986, the building faced another period of uncertainty, falling victim to fires and vandalism. It landed on the D.C. Preservation League’s Most Endangered Places List in 1996. Thankfully, history repeated itself. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Warder-Totten House underwent a significant renovation in 2001-2002. Today, it stands proudly as a 38-unit apartment complex, a beautiful blend of old and new. The Warder-Totten House isn’t just a building; it’s a story of resilience, a monument to architectural passion, and a living piece of Washington D.C.’s rich history.