By the beginning of the 19th century, the U.S. Post Office Department was in dire need of a new home capable of housing its ever-expanding responsibilities. More specifically, the agency required a structure that was both spacious and secure, guaranteeing the protection of the mail charged to its care. U.S. President Andrew Jackson commissioned the construction of a replacement edifice in 1836, tasking the renowned architect Robert Mills to oversee the design process. Completed six years later, Mills’ building possessed a revolutionary configuration. He laid an ingenious U-shaped foundation for the site, which supported a superstructure that featured nearly a dozen interconnected wings. Gorgeous Neoclassical motifs molded the building’s stunning appearance, such as replica Corinthian pilasters, arcaded recesses, and peaked window lintels. The interior layout contained its own striking aesthetics, like barrel-vaulted corridors, rounded alcoves, and cantilevered granite staircases. The most remarkable architectural feat was Mills’ ability to incorporate marble throughout the entire exterior, making it the first all-marble building of its kind to debut in the District of Columbia. But as the city grew, so did the need for even more efficient postal services. Thus in 1855, Thomas Ustick Walter, best known for planning the dome of the U.S. Capitol around the same time, was appointed to oversee the building’s expansion. Walter extended the length of the structure to reach 19 bays, in turn enlarging it to encompass a whole city block. However, his addition was in sync with Mills’ vision, having used native Maryland marble to complement the original masonry.

Referred to simply as the “General Post Office,” the structure became central to the daily operations of the federal government. Thousands of parcels departed from the facility for many years, heading out to the numerous civil servants stationed throughout Washington, D.C. Several innovative postal techniques were even developed on-site, including the first door-to-door mail delivery system to be implemented in the country. The General Post Office eventually decided to vacate the premises in 1897, renting it primarily to two smaller organizations instead: the U.S. General Land Office and the U.S. Bureau of Education. The National Service Selection Board was stationed within the structure during World War I as well, with General John J. Pershing using its available office space to write his final report about the wartime experiences of the American Expeditionary Force. Then in 1932, the forebearer of the current U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Tarriff Commission, became the primary tenant of the historic General Post Office building. The U.S. Trade Commission would gradually occupy the entire grounds over the next five decades, utilizing the structure in its mission to supervise an important array of regulations involving intellectual property rights and commercial import practices. Despite its continued use, the building began to show signs of aging. In consequence, the U.S. International Trade Commission ultimately vacated the premises during the late 1980s. Recognizing its great cultural significance, the General Services Administration (GSA) sought a renewed purpose for the site and signed a lease with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2000.

A comprehensive adaptive reuse project then commenced, costing a total of $32 million to finish. The renovations proved to be extremely meticulous, turning the building into a breathtaking hotel called the “Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C.” The library space of the Postmaster General was creatively reimagined to be a stunning ballroom, while the original courtyard contained a stylish, upscale dining establishment. Former offices were reborn as marvelous guestrooms and suites retaining noteworthy traits like their historic 16-to-22-foot-high domed ceilings. After two years of hard work, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. triumphantly opened to incredible acclaim. Although the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. soon earned an enviable reputation due to its luxurious offerings, the building received an impressive array of accolades for the quality of its preserved architecture. For instance, the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Award for Historic Preservation, the GSA Heritage Award for Adaptive Use, and the GSA Heritage Award for Conservation and Restoration were among the honors eventually bestowed onto the hotel. Now a widely celebrated U.S. National Historic Landmark, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, D.C. has remained an iconic destination thanks to the dedicated stewardship of the Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. (Pebblebrook Hotel Trust began overseeing the building on behalf of the GSA in 2010, intent on ensuring that its heritage would endure for future generations.) Yet, this fantastic historic hotel also continues to be a living monument, its rooms and corridors acting as a collective time capsule embodying the very essence of Washington, D.C.’s extensive civic history.