Since 1942, US presidents have ensconced visiting dignitaries at Blair House, a complex of four highly secured town houses run by the Department of State and anchored by Blair House itself—an 1824 former private home that is celebrating its bicentennial this year. Just a two-minute walk from the White House, “Blair House is often referred to as ‘the front door of America,’ with foreign delegations coming that have possibly never visited our country before,” says Sarah Perot, chairman of the board of trustees for the Blair House Foundation, a nonpartisan charitable organization. “It’s really our opportunity to extend just the warmest hospitality. This is such a major part of our diplomatic efforts.”
The retreat down the street is so welcoming that visitors—which last year included delegations from Brazil, Japan, and…
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Architectural Digest (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 2024