Architects Foundation
Washington D.C., DC
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The Octagon
Washington, DC
Architects Foundation Board statement on The Octagon
The staff and board of the Architects Foundation, owner of The Octagon, want to share the AIA Board statement on systemic racial injustice. As the philanthropic partner of AIA, we agree that systemic racial injustice in any form, whet… Read More
Staircase Landing -- The Octagon’s curving staircase serves equally well both aesthetic and practical purposes. The staircase acts like a chimney, or flue, not only to ventilate the entire house, but also to distribute warm and cool air throughout the house. Imagine it’s a warm summer day and that… Read More
Staircase Landing -- The Octagon’s curving staircase serves equally well both aesthetic and practical purposes. The staircase acts like a chimney, or flue, not only to ventilate the entire house, but also to distribute warm and cool air throughout the house. Imagine it’s a warm summer day and that… Read More
New York Avenue Gallery--This small room, now used as gallery space, is attached to the Master Bedroom. This space most likely served as a nursery for the Tayloes. Anne Ogle Tayloe had 15 children, 7 of whom were born in the Octagon.
The back exterior stairs lead to the basement of the house. This walkway area between the stairs and the door allowed the enslaved workers to move between the coal vault at the far end, the back garden, and the basement of the house without walking through public areas on the first floor.
Little is known about who may have filled the housekeeper’s position at the Octagon. Based on period accounts of other Washington matrons, it is possible that this position saw frequent turnover and that Ann Tayloe, hired a white woman to help oversee the running of her complex household. The Tayl… Read More
The housekeeper’s role was vital for a smoothly operating household. Her job would have included overseeing the work of most of the other individuals employed inside the house. Both daily and seasonal cleaning would have been under her supervision as would the care of family clothing and the regul… Read More
Families with the wealth and social standing of the Tayloes entertained frequently and lavishly. Food for multi-course dinner parties and elegant refreshments for balls and tea parties were made in the Tayloe kitchen. In addition to preparing for such elaborate entertainments, the cook and kitchen… Read More
Food consumed at the Octagon came from a variety of sources. Local markets sold an array of fruits and vegetables as well as butchered meat and fresh fish, some of which was gathered or raised by slaves who lived on farms and plantations near the city. General merchants sold basic commodities like… Read More
A stew stove: This built-in cooking surface (to the left of the hearth) was known to the Tayloes and their cook as a “stew” stove. A stew stove burned charcoal in iron baskets set into the openings in the top, creating a more consistent heat which allowed the cook to make delicate sauces and carefu… Read More
