The Van Ness Mansion was completed for John Peter Van Ness and

Marcia Van Ness Marcia Burnes Van Ness (May 9, 1782 – September 10, 1832) was an 18th and 19th–century socialite in Washington City. Early life Marcia Burnes was born on May 9, 1782, to Ann (née Wightt) and David Burnes on their plantation in what would b ...

in 1816 by

Benjamin Henry Latrobe Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe (May 1, 1764 – September 3, 1820) was an Anglo-American neoclassical architect who emigrated to the United States. He was one of the first formally trained, professional architects in the new United States, draw ...

on 17th Street,

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

They entertained the Madisons, James Monroe,

George Washington Parke Custis George Washington Parke Custis (April 30, 1781 – October 10, 1857) was an American plantation owner, antiquarian, author, and playwright. His father John Parke Custis was the stepson of George Washington. He and his sister Eleanor grew u ...

and John Tayloe III at their mansion. The mansion was described as the "finest house in America". It was built on land that had been owned by Marcia's father, David Burnes, who left 500 acres along the Potomac River to Van Ness. It was one of the most expensive houses in the country, fitted with hot and cold running water, a modern feature at the time, and the mansion was the first residence in the city to have that luxury. Latrobe added a feature designed to maintain a sense of privacy when food was conveyed to dining rooms. Servants accessed rotating servers from a hallway that allowed them to deliver food without entering the room. He installed them previously at the Adena Mansion in

Chillicothe, Ohio Chillicothe ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Scioto River 45 miles (72 km) south of Columbus, Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio. It is the only city in Ross Count ...

. It had the country's largest and coolest wine vault. Latrop said that the Van Ness Mansion was "the best house I ever designed". It overlaid his "American rational-configuration on the kind of English residential model that impressed him during his work for and study with S. P. Cockerell." Latrobe also worked with John Peter Van Ness on the reconstruction of Washington, D.C. public buildings. Van Ness was a commissioner of the Capitol reconstruction commission, along with Richard B. Lee and

Tench Ringgold Tench Ringgold (March 3, 1777July 31, 1844) was a businessman and political appointee in Washington, D.C. He was U.S. marshal of the District of Columbia, appointed by President James Monroe (18171825) and serving in the position through 1830, dur ...

. The mansion degraded over time. In 1907, the mansion was razed and the Pan American Union Building was built on the site. The stables, also designed by Latrobe, were not demolished at that time. The stuccoed building existed was located at 18th and C Streets.

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Bibliography

* {{Authority control Buildings and structures in Washington, D.C. Benjamin Henry Latrobe buildings and structures 1816 establishments