Dumbarton Oaks (Part 1 of 2)

In Upper Georgetown, a very large historic estate still stands, Dumbarton Oaks.  

The estate is located on a royal land grant made in 1702, long before the port of Georgetown was founded.  A century later, a house was built on the land, atop a hill high above Georgetown and overlooking the newly created District of Columbia.  Over the next 120+ years, successive owners expanded the house and, starting in 1920, formal gardens were added.  

The property was gifted to Harvard University in 1940 and since then Harvard has dedicated the estate to research in Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art and to studies in garden design and landscape architecture.  A museum was constructed on the property and the formal gardens have been beautifully maintained.  

The gardens and museum at Dumbarton Oaks, including a portion of the house, are open to the public.  On a lovely Autumn afternoon, we visited the gardens and museum.  Here are some photos from our visit.  

In the photo below, Susan imagines she is the heroine of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.  Here, the heroine Elizabeth Bennet stands in front Mr. Darcy's country estate.  A girl can dream, can't she?    

Dumbarton Oaks:  Miss Bennet visits Mr. Darcy's estate, Pemberly.

Dumbarton Oaks:  The North Vista, a terraced lawn on the north/rear side of the house.  (Greg thought the tiers and steps would make for a challenging round of croquet.  Is there chipping in croquet?)  

Dumbarton Oaks:  The Pebble Garden viewed from above

Dumbarton Oaks:  The fountain in the Pebble Garden

Dumbarton Oaks:  Some dude stands in The Ellipse, an tree-ringed oval with a fountain and small pond in the center

Dumbarton Oaks:  One of the many decorative stone sculptures in the Gardens 

Dumbarton Oaks:  The Swimming Pool.  (Greg wanted to jump but birthday suits are not allowed.  Thank goodness!)  

During our tour of the Gardens, we spotted something out of the ordinary while visiting the Rose Terrace.  Take a close look at the photo below. 

Dumbarton Oaks:  The Rose Terrace

We spotted a pair of rabbits in the garden.  The rabbits seemed used to humans.  They did not hop away until we got very close.  

Next Up:  Our tour of Dumbarton Oaks continues.

P.S.  Pop Quiz:  In the book Pride and Prejudice, what was Mr. Darcy's first name?