A Notable History

In 1923, the nation had a new president in Calvin Coolidge, and Washington, DC welcomed a new luxury residential building: The Jefferson Apartment, a Beaux Arts design by Jules Henri de Sibour that was the address of choice for savvy Washingtonians. 1955 saw the apartment’s conversion into a hotel, and The Jefferson was born.

With a guest list that reads like a Who’s Who of political and social circles, The Jefferson established a reputation as Washington’s most discerning hotel, known for its attention to detail, exceptional service and exquisite interiors filled with European and American antiques and Jeffersonian artifacts. Over the years and through several transformations, The Jefferson has maintained a style and grace unmatched by other Washington hotels.

In Spring 2007, the hotel closed its doors to undertake the largest transformation in its history, and, in August 2009, The Jefferson re-emerged on the Washington scene as the capital’s finest small hotel.

An Elegant Revolution

A joint partnership between some of the world's finest architectural, design and construction firms was the creative force behind The Jefferson’s transformation, fashioning interiors both European and distinctly Washingtonian in style, rich in historical details and Jeffersonian influences.

The renovation encompassed all 99 suites and guest rooms, and all public spaces – introducing one of the city’s finest destination restaurants, a lounge with an outdoor terrace for cigars and cognacs, and meeting space configured for intimate gatherings.

Also new are three expansive specialty suites, an exclusive spa with treatments based on botanicals from Thomas Jefferson’s own farms, and a well-equipped fitness room.

A highlight of the restoration was the reintroduction of a magnificent 1923 skylight in the lobby. Covered for decades, it now allows natural light to stream into the lobby at the entryway to Plume, the hotel's fine dining restaurant.

The Jefferson’s beloved antiques, period artifacts, documents signed by Thomas Jefferson and vintage books once again grace the guest rooms and public spaces. These coexist with 21st-century technology, allowing guests to escape the modern world or connect with it as they choose.

The Jefferson, Washington, DC - Eight Generations of Quiet Revolutions