Can you imagine President Woodrow Wilson, after shaping global history, seeking solace in a home right here in Washington D.C.? This is the Woodrow Wilson House. It served as his residence after his presidency. Let’s step inside and uncover its story.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President, moved into this house in March 1921. He had just left office. He actually bought it as a gift for his wife, Edith Bolling Wilson. Though he gifted the deed in December 1920, Wilson hadn’t even seen the house himself.
The Woodrow Wilson House was built in 1915. Waddy Butler Wood, a prominent architect, designed it. Wilson made some changes to suit his needs. He added a billiard room. He also built stacks for his massive library of over 8,000 books and a one-story brick garage.
Imagine Wilson addressing a crowd from the balcony on November 11, 1923. It was his last public appearance. Important figures visited him here. Former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George and former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau both came to see the ailing president. Wilson usually met guests in his library at 3:30 pm. The library had a fireplace and comfortable furniture.
After Wilson’s death in 1924, many of his books went to the Library of Congress. Edith Wilson continued to live here until her death in 1961. She even hosted First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for brunch in the dining room. Edith bequeathed the house and its original furnishings to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Today, the Woodrow Wilson House is a museum. It’s filled with Wilson’s belongings. There are over 8,000 artifacts. These include the pen he used to sign the Declaration of War for World War I. Also, a mosaic from Pope Benedict XV and a gold watch from the President of Czechoslovakia.
The Woodrow Wilson House stands as a National Historic Landmark. It offers a glimpse into the life of a president who changed America’s role in the world. He imagined a world at peace. He proposed the League of Nations to achieve that vision. While also facing shortcomings related to race and civil liberties.
As you explore the Woodrow Wilson House, consider Wilson’s words from 1923. “The affairs of the world can be set straight only by the firmest and most determined exhibition of the will to lead and make the right prevail.” The Woodrow Wilson House is more than just a building. It is a testament to a consequential life. It reminds us of the power of ideas and the enduring quest for peace.