Heurich House Museum
Heurich House Museum
Heurich House Museum
4.5
About
Historic Dupont Circle home of German immigrant and brewmaster Christian Heurich (1842-1945) and family The mansion was built from 1892-94 by German immigrant, local brewer, and philanthropist Christian Heurich (1842-1945). He and his family lived in their Dupont Circle home from its completion in 1894 until his wife's death in 1956. Recognized as Washington, DC's most successful brewer, he ran the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co., the city's longest-operating brewery (1873-1956), until his death at 102. The mansion is notable for its fireproof construction, original interiors, and family collections. The museum, located at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue in Dupont Circle, is open for regular public events and guided tours Thursday through Saturday at 11:30 am, 1:00 and 2:30 pm. Private tours and event rentals are also available.
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
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- Dupont Circle • 5 min walk
- Farragut North • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
94 reviews
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arwilliams1117
Silver Spring, MD55 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Don’t miss this museum and its astounding explosion of 19th-century decorative excess. I’m definitely putting it on my list of wonderful, unexpected places to show visitors from out of town.
I walked past the unusual, big building for years without making the time to go in—until a few days ago.
This Victorian-era “brewmaster’s castle” is so chock-a-block full of fancy details that I couldn’t stop taking photos.
It was the first fireproof residence in Washington, DC. And the first with electricity. Today it’s one the few historical houses in the city that still has most of its original furniture.
The backstories of the furnishings are fascinating.
Consider the enormous double roll-top oak desk with mahogany inlays in the library. It was commissioned for President Grant and made in Bozeman, Montana, in 1879. For some reason, though, it ended up in government storage. Christian Heurich bought it at a government auction—but he never used it. It was so fabulous he didn’t want to scratch it! That means what you see in the museum is in perfect condition.
Room after room of this old home is filled with such surprises, and arranged so attractively with the comforts and doodads of daily life, that you may just want to move in.
The current museum is the home that beer built, especially a variety called Senate Beer. A private collection, on loan, of Heurich Brewery memorabilia is now also on exhibit—which you see in the carriage house after touring the main building.
Heurich’s brewery survived Prohibition by selling ice, but it closed in 1956.
Our docent told us that the modern company DC Brau has done some reverse engineering to recreate Heurich’s lager beer, which it now brews occasionally. She loves it and buys it by the case when she can find it. That’s on my list now too.
Tips: Tour groups are small, so reserve your space ahead of time at the museum’s website.
A docent will let you in just before your tour begins, so prepare to stand outside and wait until that happens.
A $10 donation is requested.
If you’re from out of town: This museum is near the Dupont Circle stop on the DC Metro’s red line. Leave the station from the southern exit, and take the stretch of New Hampshire Avenue that runs off the traffic circle to the southwest. The walk to the museum should take about five minutes.
I walked past the unusual, big building for years without making the time to go in—until a few days ago.
This Victorian-era “brewmaster’s castle” is so chock-a-block full of fancy details that I couldn’t stop taking photos.
It was the first fireproof residence in Washington, DC. And the first with electricity. Today it’s one the few historical houses in the city that still has most of its original furniture.
The backstories of the furnishings are fascinating.
Consider the enormous double roll-top oak desk with mahogany inlays in the library. It was commissioned for President Grant and made in Bozeman, Montana, in 1879. For some reason, though, it ended up in government storage. Christian Heurich bought it at a government auction—but he never used it. It was so fabulous he didn’t want to scratch it! That means what you see in the museum is in perfect condition.
Room after room of this old home is filled with such surprises, and arranged so attractively with the comforts and doodads of daily life, that you may just want to move in.
The current museum is the home that beer built, especially a variety called Senate Beer. A private collection, on loan, of Heurich Brewery memorabilia is now also on exhibit—which you see in the carriage house after touring the main building.
Heurich’s brewery survived Prohibition by selling ice, but it closed in 1956.
Our docent told us that the modern company DC Brau has done some reverse engineering to recreate Heurich’s lager beer, which it now brews occasionally. She loves it and buys it by the case when she can find it. That’s on my list now too.
Tips: Tour groups are small, so reserve your space ahead of time at the museum’s website.
A docent will let you in just before your tour begins, so prepare to stand outside and wait until that happens.
A $10 donation is requested.
If you’re from out of town: This museum is near the Dupont Circle stop on the DC Metro’s red line. Leave the station from the southern exit, and take the stretch of New Hampshire Avenue that runs off the traffic circle to the southwest. The walk to the museum should take about five minutes.
Written 19 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pookala
Philadelphia, PA4 367 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
It takes a little planning to see Heurich House but it is so worth the effort. Only open for public touring on Thursday, Friday, Saturday led by docent tour guides 3 times a day (11:30, 1:00, 2:30) you need to reserve a spot through their website. There's a suggested $10 per person donation after entry.
The tour lasts about 1 1/4 hours and our guide was charming warm funny and obviously had a great passion for the place and it's history. Her enthusiasm was contagious. It was, for the time alloted, a singular insight into the immigrant experience, a family's history, victorian decor and architecture and the way people of a certain status lived.
Washington has a treasure trove worth of wonders to be seen. This slightly off-the-beaten-path experience may be one of your most memorable. Make the effort to put this on your to-see list, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The tour lasts about 1 1/4 hours and our guide was charming warm funny and obviously had a great passion for the place and it's history. Her enthusiasm was contagious. It was, for the time alloted, a singular insight into the immigrant experience, a family's history, victorian decor and architecture and the way people of a certain status lived.
Washington has a treasure trove worth of wonders to be seen. This slightly off-the-beaten-path experience may be one of your most memorable. Make the effort to put this on your to-see list, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Written 7 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
matthiashess
New York City, NY223 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
On a quiet neighborhood street sits this imposing mansion with a beautiful garden (open to the public on weekdays). Inside is a fascinating, well-preserved home with all kinds of interesting details and gadgets. The guide is very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. (We were the only ones on our tour.) I enjoyed learning about the Heurich brewery and all of the technology incorporated into the home (fireproof construction, central heating and cooling, industrial boiler, speaking tubes, burglar alarm, etc.). There is so much on the first three floors, but I'd love to get a peek at the upper two as well. Apparently the home can be rented for events--what a unique venue. This tour is a bargain and one of my favorite things I've seen in DC!
Written 23 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JenniferLynn
Chicago490 contributions
Feb 2020
We were looking for unique tours while in DC last weekend and fortunately found this one. We got tickets ahead of time and one thing to note is the $10 suggested donation / person. Personally, seeing as it was "suggested", we didn't donate when we initially booked. Since it was suggested, I wanted to do the donation after the tour - based on the experience. You don't quite get that luxury b/c they call you out at the beginning of the tour and "encourage/urge" you to donate right away.
When you first get to the house - you wait outside for the next tour. There is no waiting inside. A foursome missed the 11:30 am tour by five minutes and could not join "late". There was only 1 tour guide and she starts the tour in the back of the house - so if you're waiting in the front, she'll never see you. So - be on time!
Even after all that - I really enjoyed the tour. It ended up being over an hour and you really got to see most of the house. Even though the furnishings are from that time, I thought it was preserved very well, and our guide was very thorough in her descriptions.
I would recommend the tour to others.
When you first get to the house - you wait outside for the next tour. There is no waiting inside. A foursome missed the 11:30 am tour by five minutes and could not join "late". There was only 1 tour guide and she starts the tour in the back of the house - so if you're waiting in the front, she'll never see you. So - be on time!
Even after all that - I really enjoyed the tour. It ended up being over an hour and you really got to see most of the house. Even though the furnishings are from that time, I thought it was preserved very well, and our guide was very thorough in her descriptions.
I would recommend the tour to others.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brucetaylortravels
Madrid, Spain493 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
Christian Heurich was born in Bavaria and arrived in America in 1866 with $200 in his pocket. And he never looked back......
He made his fortune in brewing and in 1892-4 built DC's first ever fireproof home in steel and concrete. The style of the building Is Richardsonian Romanesque (Richardson of Trinity Church Boston fame). There's some amazing hand carved oak and almost all the materials used were locally sourced, not brought from Germany.
Heurich was a pioneer. Not only is this fine Victorian mansion fireproof, it also uses the latest 'technology' of the time with a dual gas-electricity installation for lighting, burgler alarms, intercoms between floors and a central vacuum system.
Every 3rd Thursday of the month the Museum offers craft beer tastings in combination with a short tour of the house, 6.30 to 8.30pm. They also organise special events throughout the year, many with a German flavour.
The normal one hour guided tour of the house which you need to book is excellent.
He made his fortune in brewing and in 1892-4 built DC's first ever fireproof home in steel and concrete. The style of the building Is Richardsonian Romanesque (Richardson of Trinity Church Boston fame). There's some amazing hand carved oak and almost all the materials used were locally sourced, not brought from Germany.
Heurich was a pioneer. Not only is this fine Victorian mansion fireproof, it also uses the latest 'technology' of the time with a dual gas-electricity installation for lighting, burgler alarms, intercoms between floors and a central vacuum system.
Every 3rd Thursday of the month the Museum offers craft beer tastings in combination with a short tour of the house, 6.30 to 8.30pm. They also organise special events throughout the year, many with a German flavour.
The normal one hour guided tour of the house which you need to book is excellent.
Written 13 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Motherhen03
Fairfax, VA157 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
The photos on this site do not do it justice! Beautiful mansion built in 1894 will all the latest technology at that time. This was an easy walk from the Dupont Circle Metro South exit. They do have an elevator if someone is in a wheel chair. It is only open for tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays for 3 one hour tours. It is worth the visit. One hour tour only costs $ 10. Go on a regular tour and you will get to see more of the house. The docent was very friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful on the inside, nice garden in the back. One can pay to have a wedding or event there. It would be a beautiful place to do so.
Written 9 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian B
Silver Spring, MD195 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
One of the best preserved Victorian mansions in the USA, definitely worth a visit if you want to see what state of the art living in 1894 looked like. Mansion of the DC brewing family, the Heurich's, it has been largely preserved just as it was in the late 1800's as the family didn't change much while they lived there. Sign up online for one of their tours that only take an hour or two. Out back in the carriage house is an exhibit on the Heurich Brewing Company that used to be where the Kennedy Center is now. Cool little site not too many folks know about and well worth the visit!
Written 23 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mcsc-squared
New York City, NY881 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
We discovered/ visited Heurich House a few weeks ago while walking in the DuPonr Circle area. It had line of 10-15 people because there was a Kristkindl (Christmas) Market going on. We bought the $15 tickets which gave us access to the market and the museum tour. It was nice, but didn’t think the price was justified. The Kristkindl market had 30-40 stalls. Only 3 or 4 of them had food with lines. Rest were just mostly selling locally made stuff but somehow they convinced somebody to let them open a stall in a German Christmas market?!. The museum tour was nice but limited to the 1st & 2nd levels - they didn’t allow us to go to the basement which had the brew house or the upper levels. Not worth $15/person.
Written 26 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FirstClassLounge
London, UK1 120 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
I traveled to Washington D.C. a few weeks ago. During my stay, I decided to visit some historic homes and gardens. Today, I would like to tell you about the Heurich House Museum known also as the Brewmaster’s House.
The Heurich House Museum is a well-preserved Victorian mansion previously owned by Christian Heurich, a German immigrant that left his country to start a new life in Washington, DC. It is located near the trendy Dupont Circle.
The Heurich House Museum.as built from 1892-94 by German immigrant, local brewer Christian Heurich (1842-1945). He lived with his family in Dupont Circle from its 1894 until 1956. He was terrified of fires and the mansion is notable for its fireproof construction. It has original interiors that still look amazing due to the shade and lower temperature of the house.
The Heurich House Museum offers guided tours that last approximately 1 hour on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I’ve joined a tour on Saturday and it was great to learn about the history of the house, its owner and what currently happens there. We walked through the rooms with a knowledgeable guide and admired lots of beautiful antics inspired by French style.
What I found interesting was that the Heurich House Museum, runs a monthly History & Hops event every third Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30pm. During that events the museum partners with a local beer insider for house tours and beer tastings so if you enjoy trying some local beers then you should definitely book yourself in on one of these evenings.
I loved the quotes that were displayed in a drinking room of the owner where he would meet up with a group of friends to try his locally-brewed beer.
Address:
Heurich House Museum
1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Heurich House Museum is a well-preserved Victorian mansion previously owned by Christian Heurich, a German immigrant that left his country to start a new life in Washington, DC. It is located near the trendy Dupont Circle.
The Heurich House Museum.as built from 1892-94 by German immigrant, local brewer Christian Heurich (1842-1945). He lived with his family in Dupont Circle from its 1894 until 1956. He was terrified of fires and the mansion is notable for its fireproof construction. It has original interiors that still look amazing due to the shade and lower temperature of the house.
The Heurich House Museum offers guided tours that last approximately 1 hour on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I’ve joined a tour on Saturday and it was great to learn about the history of the house, its owner and what currently happens there. We walked through the rooms with a knowledgeable guide and admired lots of beautiful antics inspired by French style.
What I found interesting was that the Heurich House Museum, runs a monthly History & Hops event every third Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30pm. During that events the museum partners with a local beer insider for house tours and beer tastings so if you enjoy trying some local beers then you should definitely book yourself in on one of these evenings.
I loved the quotes that were displayed in a drinking room of the owner where he would meet up with a group of friends to try his locally-brewed beer.
Address:
Heurich House Museum
1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
Written 3 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MegtheHealer
Maryland1 128 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
Toured the Christian Heurich House last weekend with my husband and friends. The architectural details were amazing! Intricately carved wooden features, unique wall finishes, and onyx staircases could only hint at how the home must have looked when Mr. Heurich lived there. Lots of stairs and no elevators made it unfriendly for those with physical challenges (Heurich himself took the stairs until his death at 102!). Friendly, informative staff members, delicious complimentary cookies, and a fascinating history ensured a fun time was had by all.
Written 9 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are you allowed to take photos as you are on the tour?
Written 8 August 2015
Yes photos are allowed but only without flash.
Written 9 August 2015
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