Dumbarton House, which dates from the beginning of the nineteenth century, is architecturally significant because it is an outstanding example of American architecture of the early Federal period; it represents a transitional phase in American architecture, from the Georgian to the Federal; and it has retained much of its original building fabric, in spite of successive alterations. Historically, Dumbarton House is significant because it is associated with several prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century public figures and with the early history of Georgetown.
Dumbarton House is located on part of a 795 acre tract which was granted to Colonel Ninian Beall (1625-1717) by Charles, Lord Baltimore, in 1703, for services rendered by Beall as a member of the Maryland House of Burgesses and as Commander-in-Chief of Maryland's Provincial Forces. Beall (who was the founder of a family which has always taken an active role in state affairs) patented the tract (located in what was then Frederick County, Maryland) as "The Rock of Dumbarton", in honor of the land of his birth, Scotland. A man of considerable wealth, Beall owned several large estates in Maryland; his property was inherited by his eight children after his death in 1717.
Built c. 1800; moved 1915; restored 1931
DC Inventory: November 8, 1964
National Register; January 28, 1991
Within Georgetown HD