Following the tragic assassination of her husband, Jackie Kennedy purchased an 18th-century residence in Georgetown to be her personal home. She would move again a year later as the home attracted too much attention from the public and especially the paparazzi. The home is now for sale and featured this week at TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.
Even before her reign as the first lady of “Camelot” during her husband JFK’s presidency, Jackie Kennedy was known for her unique style. She popularized the shift dress, Chanel suit, and pillbox hat as she took on a highly publicized renovation of the White House and worked to preserve historic monuments across the USA. Her style evolved with her, as her marriage to shipping-magnate Aristotle Onassis brought about a new look: menswear-inspired suits, billowy dresses, and oversized sunglasses. A style icon for generations, she also worked as a book editor and continued her efforts to preserve historically and culturally important homes and buildings until her death in 1994.
Following the tragic assassination of President Kennedy, Jackie purchased an 18th-century residence in Georgetown, known as the Baker House, to be her personal home. She would move again a year later as the home attracted too much attention from the public and especially the paparazzi. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Federal-style mansion was also the residence of Georgetown mayor Thomas Beall, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, and the former Miss America Yolande Fox. Now combined with two other homes to create a massive, 16,300-square-foot mansion, it has hit the market for $26.5 million.
The opulent compound includes 13 bedrooms, 13 full baths and 5 half baths across the three homes. The former Kennedy home has been meticulously maintained, with original fireplaces, impressive grand entry hall, and wood-paneled library. Renovations have created a showplace home with the highest quality design, fixtures, and finishes. An elegant dining room with gold-leaf ceiling, a gym, an executive office, and a spacious-modern kitchen are just a few of the home’s amenities. The second floor is devoted to a spacious primary suite with parquet flooring, spa-quality bath, and a private balcony with garden views. Four additional bedrooms feature en-suites, and a lofted observation deck offers stellar views of the property and surrounding city, including the Washington Monument.
The additional homes are connected via passageways as well as an underground parking lot. One of the homes features a fantastic Italianate entertaining room and three bedrooms, while the other offers five bedrooms with oak herringbone flooring, a gourmet kitchen, and elegant moldings throughout. All three homes offer modern luxury while retaining their unique and historic character.
Georgetown is an upscale neighborhood in Washington, DC, known for its Federal homes, fine dining, and luxury hotels. Nearby options for entertainment include the Georgetown Waterfront Park, the high-end shops on M Street, and numerous art galleries. The White House, the Capitol Building, and other famous DC landmarks are only a few miles away. The neighborhood has long attracted notables, including Francis Scott Key, Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth Taylor and Alexander Graham Bell just a few of its famous residents. Current luminaries include Jeff Bezos and Henry Kissinger.
The listing is held by Jonathan Taylor, founder and managing partner of TTR Sotheby's International Realty. Photo Credit: Sean Shanahan and Elle Pouchet.