The Stephen B. Decatur House Museum
A Tribute to Latrobe
A celebration dinner was held on October 24 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Benjamin Henry Latrobe's appointment by Thomas Jefferson as the nation's first "Surveyor of the Public Buildings" at the Stephen Decatur House and Museum. Latrobe served as the first fully trained architect to practice and teach in the United States. The black-tie affair began with a VIP reception in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol, and concluded with the dinner at Decatur House. Both locations were designed by Latrobe.
Guests dined while enjoying the music of the United States Naval Academy Women's Glee Club. The celebrators were also joined by Swedish Ambassador Jan Eliasson, Colombian Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno and his wife, Gabriela Febres-Cordero.
The Decatur house formerly served as the home to many 19th century senators, congressman, foreign ministers and other dignitaries, including Henry Clay, secretary of state to Pre s ident John Quincy Adams; Martin Van Buren; and former Vice President George M. Dallas.
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