The Embassy of Latvia (historically known as the Alice Pike Barney Studio House or Studio House) in

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, ...

, is the

diplomatic mission A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...

of the

Republic of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

to the United States. It is located at 2306

Massachusetts Avenue Massachusetts Avenue may refer to: * Massachusetts Avenue (metropolitan Boston), Massachusetts ** Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Orange Line station), a subway station on the MBTA Orange Line ** Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Silver Line station), a stati ...

NW on

Embassy Row Embassy Row is the informal name for a section of Northwest Washington, D.C. with a high concentration of embassies, diplomatic missions, and diplomatic residences. It spans Massachusetts Avenue N.W. between 18th and 35th street, bounded by ...

in the

Sheridan-Kalorama Kalorama is a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States. It includes the Kalorama Triangle Historic District and Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District. It is named after the Kalorama mansion. Kalorama Triangle is bordered by C ...

neighborhood. The current ambassador is Māris Selga.

Building history

Alice Pike Barney Studio House

Waddy Butler Wood Waddy Butler Wood (1869 – January 25, 1944) was a prominent American architect of the early 20th century and resident of Washington, D.C. Although Wood designed and remodeled numerous private residences, his reputation rested primarily o ...

in 1902, the former studio house of

Alice Pike Barney Alice Pike Barney (born Alice Pike; 1857–1931) was an American Painting, painter. She was active in Washington, D.C. and worked to make Washington into a center of the arts. Her two daughters were the writer and salon (gathering), salon hostess ...

is an example of

Spanish Colonial Revival architecture The Spanish Colonial Revival Style ( es, Arquitectura neocolonial española) is an architectural stylistic movement arising in the early 20th century based on the Spanish Colonial architecture of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. In th ...

. It was used by Barney until her death and her daughters Natalie Barney and Laura Dreyfus-Barney held the house until 1961.

Smithsonian Institution

In 1961 the Barney women donated the house to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1976 it was opened as part of the National Museum of American Art to be used as a house museum. After more than 14 years the building had succumbed to significant structural damage. Since it would cost more than $2 million to renovate the house, the building was closed and the building and its furnishings were put up for sale.''Friends of Alice Pike Barney Studio House''
National Museum of Woman in the Arts. Retrieved March 9, 2014. pp. 2-3 The Friends of Alice Pike Barney Studio House was incorporated in 1993 to buy the house and pay for its renovations. ''Alice Pike Barney: Her Life and Art,'' written by curator of the house, Jean L. Kling was the subject of a book party to raise funds in 1994. The same year, the association attempted a working relationship with the Smithsonian Institution to preserve the building. Unable to raise sufficient funds, the house was listed for sale by the Smithsonian Institution in 1999 and the following years attempts to have the building zones for use as a School of Arts. Its ownership was passed to the Latvian government in 2001, with the intention of hosting events in memory of Alice Pike Barney and her art.

Embassy of Latvia

The renovated house is used as a residence for the Latvian ambassador and an embassy.

National Register of Historic Places

In addition to being listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

, the building is a contributing property to the 'Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District' and Massachusetts Avenue Historic District.. National Register of Historic Places. April 27, 1995. Retrieved March 9, 2014.

References

External links

*
Friends of Alice Pike Barney Studio House, Inc. Collection
at the

National Museum of Women in the Arts The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), located in Washington, D.C., is "the first museum in the world solely dedicated" to championing women through the arts. NMWA was incorporated in 1981 by Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay. Since openin ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Embassy of Latvia, Washington, D.C.

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

Houses completed in 1902 Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Latvia–United States relations Arts and Crafts architecture in the United States Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the United States Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Washington, D.C.