'Gilded Age Embassy Row, Part 3: Off the Row' Webinar

In the waning decades of the 19th century, a once-quiet stretch of Washington, D.C.’s Massachusetts Avenue erupted into a parade of palatial mansions, each one vying to outshine the last. What began as a cluster of opulent homes for Washington’s wealthiest soon became a living monument to the Gilded Age — a place where power, prestige, and architectural daring collided. It’s time to uncover the visionaries, magnates, and tastemakers who transformed “Millionaires Row” into the world-renowned Embassy Row we know today.

Join New York Adventure Club for a three-part series exploring the transformation of Dupont Circle’s “Millionaires Row” into today’s Embassy Row, when Washington, D.C. became a showcase for the architectural ambition of America’s Gilded Age. In Part Three: Off the Row, we’ll venture beyond Massachusetts Avenue to discover some of D.C.’s other surviving Gilded Age gems — from Neoclassical palaces to Queen Anne fantasies — each telling its own story of extravagance and individuality.

Led by Carolyn Muraskin, architectural historian and founder of DC Design Tours, this virtual exploration will include:

• Heurich House — Known as the “Brewmaster’s Castle,” a Renaissance Revival masterpiece built for brewer Christian Heurich
• Fraser Mansion — Beaux-Arts residence of George S. Fraser, later serving as the original headquarters of L. Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology
• Henderson’s Castle — A flamboyant blend of Beaux-Arts grandeur and fortress-like scale, commissioned by “Empress of Sixteenth Street” Mary Foote Henderson
• Wardman House — Stately Georgian Revival home of developer Harry Wardman, whose projects shaped much of early 20th-century Washington
• Red Top — A vivid Queen Anne confection of turrets and gables, once the summer home of President Grover Cleveland

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Carolyn — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.

See you there, virtually!

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***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Carolyn

Founder and Owner, DC Design Tours

Carolyn Muraskin founded DC Design Tours in 2015 to share her passion for Washington DC’s design through walking, driving, bike, boat and virtual tours that uncover the city’s architectural secrets and surprising stories. A University of Maryland architecture grad and former designer, Carolyn worked on projects ranging from historic restorations to mixed-use developments.

Carolyn and her team lead architecture-focused tours across DC’s diverse neighborhoods—including Embassy Row, Capitol Hill, U Street, Georgetown, and Anacostia—designed for curious visitors of all backgrounds and interests. She has collaborated with institutions like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Smithsonian and has appeared on the Discovery Channel. Carolyn lives in Northwest DC and has a serious passion for all things brick, mortar, and design.

Gilded Age Embassy Row Series

Part 1: Dupont Circle (Tuesday, September 11)

Part 2: Sheridan Circle and Kalorama (Tuesday, September 18)

Part 3: Off the Row (Friday, October 10)

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Categories: Virtual, Moments in History