This beautifully preserved stretch of townhouses along Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.’s Embassy Row district is a masterclass in late 19th-century urban architecture. Anchored by a pair of commanding round turrets, the buildings showcase the grandeur of Richardsonian Romanesque and Beaux-Arts Revival styles that flourished in the capital during the Gilded Age.
From the rusticated brownstone base to the soaring red-brick façades, each residence tells its own story through detail: arched entries, fluted stone columns, intricate wood cornices, and jewel-box dormers. The central turret—with its conical roof and checkerboard banding—is an especially eye-catching landmark, reminiscent of both castle keeps and Parisian mansard houses. Deeply recessed windows and carved stone doorframes hint at the wealth and ambition of their original occupants—many of whom were industrialists, diplomats, or early federal bureaucrats.
One of the most notable buildings in this row now houses the Republic of Zimbabwe’s Embassy, identifiable by the flag flying proudly above its entrance. The embassy’s building retains its original Romanesque charm with red sandstone, a sweeping curved bay window, and rounded Roman arches—a nod to both strength and permanence.
Walking this corridor today feels like stepping back into a golden age of D.C. architecture. For lovers of history, urbanism, or stonework craftsmanship, this block is a must-see—and a dream to photograph, especially in the soft morning light.