Embrace the present
as you step into history
Originally designed and built as a residential hotel in the 1920s, The Hay-Adams stands today as one of the most historic hotels in Washington, DC, with refined luxury to match our prestigious past.
Named for the distinguished residents, John Hay and Henry Adams, our historic hotel is now a cherished haven of luxury for visitors and Washingtonians alike.
John Hay served as personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, and later as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, as well as Secretary of State under both William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Adams was a historian and Harvard professor, and the descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
In 1884, the architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed elaborate, Romanesque homes at the corner of 16th and H Streets for Hay and Adams. The site soon became a bustling scene of intellectual activity. For years, the homes served as one of Washington's leading salons, alive with stimulating discussions about literature, art, science, and politics, and hosted famous guests such as Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain and Henry James.
In 1927, a Washington, DC, developer Harry Wardman bought and razed both homes, replacing them with the Hay-Adams House, an Italian Renaissance-style, 138-room apartment-hotel design by architect Mihran Mesrobian.
The property quickly became one of the city’s most popular hotels near the White House. Ethel Barrymore, Amelia Earhart, Sinclair Lewis, and Charles Lindbergh enjoyed the setting and views, along with innovative modern conveniences.
In 2001, the hotel closed its doors for a major $20 million renovation led by acclaimed designer Thomas Pheasant. In 2002, The Hay-Adams re-emerged fully restored as one of the region’s most refined luxury hotels.
