A Landmark History

A HISTORIC HOTEL IN WASHINGTON DC

From Post Office to Iconic Hotel: A Story 200 Years in the Making

Discover the history, grandeur, and modern luxury of Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC. The late 1830s and 1840s saw the creation of three major architectural monuments for DC that reflected a growing national confidence: the Treasury Building, the Patent Office, and the General Post Office, now home to Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC. Learn more about our historical home and its architectural design.

1795

Blodgett’s Hotel: The First Landmark

Blodgett’s Hotel stood at the heart of Washington’s “center city,” surrounded by theaters, markets, and the homes of prominent citizens.

Blodgett's Hotel, built in 1795, was the first known structure to occupy this site

1810

Post Office Beginnings: Surviving the Flames

The U.S. government purchased the hotel to house the Post Office and Patent Office. In 1814, it became the only government building to survive the British burning of Washington.

In 1810 the US government purchased the hotel to house the Post Office Department

1836

Marble & Monumental Design

After an accidental fire, construction began on a new all-marble structure. Designed by Robert Mills (later architect of the Washington Monument) and expanded by Thomas Ustick Walter (designer of the Capitol dome), the building became a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture.

The three-story U-shaped structure features Colossal Corinthian columns

2002

A Historic Reawakening

Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC opened with 184 rooms, sparking the downtown historic district’s revitalization. The exterior was fully restored, including replication of previously removed skylights and restoration of the original wood and cast iron windows.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC opened in June 2002

2016

A Modern Nod to History

A full redesign by San Francisco-based Paletteur honored the building’s classical grandeur while blending in bold, contemporary details—bridging past and present.

Renovations honored the building and the city's classical architecture and deep historical and political roots

FASCINATING FACTS

Site of Blodgett’s Hotel, the only government building spared during the British burning of Washington in 1814
Designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument, with later expansions by Thomas Ustick Walter, designer of the Capitol dome
The first all-marble exterior building in Washington, DC
A bronze plaque on 7th Street marks where Samuel Morse opened the world’s first telegraph office
Served as a Civil War munitions depot in its basement while the Post Office operated above
Birthplace of home mail delivery (1863), launched through the carriageway still visible today
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971
Reimagined as Kimpton Hotel Monaco in 2002, sparking the renaissance of DC’s downtown historic district
Neoclassical Architectural Style with Palladian influences

DESIGN FEATURES

Guestrooms

Each guestroom blends classical inspiration with modern comfort, featuring bronze-trimmed headboards, five-foot-wide architectural lion head medallions, and bold architectural motifs.

Lobby

The grand lobby celebrates historic preservation with marble staircases, soaring ceilings, and design details including Corinthian-inspired furnishings and domed chairs.

Oversized round mirrors and leaf wall coverings

Bathrooms

Lavish bathrooms recall elegant powder rooms, complete with acanthus leaf wall coverings, oversized round mirrors, and refined finishes.

Paris Ballroom

Once the Postmaster General’s library, the Paris Ballroom captivates with a soaring dome skylight, classical columns, and elegant mirrored archways.

Athens Room

The Athens Room showcases original cast-iron ceiling details, dignified torchiere lamps, and sweeping views of the courtyard and Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

Tokyo Boardroom

Bold and modern, the Tokyo Boardroom features maze-patterned carpets, French Art Deco-inspired chairs, and a sleek nod to DC’s political intrigue.

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

The building is celebrated for its neoclassical grandeur and pioneering use of materials. As the first all-marble exterior in Washington, DC, it introduced a striking presence of Colossal Corinthian columns, vaulted corridors, and domed alcoves

Inside, guests can still admire ornamental plaster friezes, intricate ceiling medallions, and marble circular stairways. Together, these details create a striking blend of strength, elegance, and symbolism that still defines the building today. The Washington Post proclaimed, “The Monaco project is an exemplary, unambiguous reminder of what creative preservation can do for a building, and potentially, for a city.” Condé Nast Traveler cited the hotel's contribution to downtown DC's renaissance: “The revitalization of F Street is on… and the Hotel Monaco is helping to lead the charge.”

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