Lockkeeper's House
Restoration and Relocation of the HISTORIC Lockkeeper’s House
Visit the Restored Lockkeeper’s House, Gateway to the National Mall - OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 11AM to 3PM
In 2018, the Lockkeeper’s House, a critical piece of our shared American history on the National Mall, was restored and carefully relocated to its new site by the Trust for the National Mall in partnership with the National Park Service. The project, supported by private funding from Trust partners and supporters, breathed new life into the oldest existing structure on the National Mall, which was first built in 1837.
Prior to the Trust’s work in 2018, the house sat untouched and neglected for more than 40 years. The Trust for the National Mall’s major $6 million restoration effort transformed the house into an educational opportunity where the National Park Service can showcase the history of civics, commerce, development, and ecology and topography on this storied site. The House that once welcomed barges and boats full of goods now welcomes visitors from across the country to learn about the National Mall’s past, present and future. The Trust is grateful to the many individual and corporate philanthropists and foundations who made this historic restoration possible.
The Lockkeeper’s House now welcomes visitors as a gateway to the National Mall, with an innovative and immersive 6-minute video program, interactive kiosks and a tour of the small but mighty 540 square foot house. National Park Service planned hours of operation are THURSDAY through SUNDAY from 11a.m. - 3 p.m. The Lockkeeper’s House is located at the southwest corner of 17th St. and Constitution Ave, NW. Go here for updates: National Mall and Memorial Parks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
About the Lockkeeper’s House
Originally completed in 1837, the Lockkeeper’s House has stood for 185 years on the National Mall, a humble witness to our nation’s history. In the early 1800s, George Washington advocated for canals in the capital city and believed they were essential for the economy and fundamental to our nationhood. The original Lockkeeper’s House house sat at the intersection of what used to be the C&O Canal and the Washington Canal, where the Lockkeeper collected tolls and kept trade records for merchandise that entered the city. Over the years, as the canals were filled in to make way for a more modern capital city, the Lockkeeper’s House evolved to meet the needs of the times – serving as a tool shed for park staff, a watchman’s lodge, and even a temporary holding cell for the Park Police.
About the Restoration of the Lockkeeper’s House
Over the span of almost two years, the Trust for the National Mall led a team of architects, engineers, developers, construction workers, and historic preservation experts to complete a holistic restoration of the historic house. The Trust worked to preserve all original historic elements and the structural integrity of the home during the complex and intricate task of lifting the home off of its foundation and moving it to a location where it would be protected from street traffic and could be appropriately showcased on a landscaped stone plaza.
“The opening of the relocated and restored Lockkeeper’s House provides a new opportunity for interpretation featuring not only the the stories of Washington’s early history but also a dynamic look at how much the landscape has changed over the years…We are grateful to our partners at the Trust for the National Mall for bringing the resources and expertise to the park that have created a new visitor experience.”
In October 2017, the house was moved approximately 36 feet to the south and then 35 feet to the west using a hydraulic system. After being aligned with its new foundation, the bottom of the house was carefully rebuilt. All stones were cleaned and repointed with new mortar created using samples of the original mortar. The roof was replaced with new cedar shingles and the fireplaces and chimneys were reconstructed using historic brick, restoring the structure back to its original design. To help create a welcoming environment for visitors, a new stone pedestrian plaza with seating walls and lush landscape was added to the site along with a 25-foot willow oak tree that will bring with it the shade of a beautiful green canopy. Granite stones were installed in the sidewalks and street to outline the two previous locations of the Lockkeeper’s House, representing the history of its past in a contemporary visitor experience.
The inside of the house was finished with a polished cement floor, wood frame windows, and large oak doors with wrought iron details. The National Park Service developed interactive digital exhibits and an innovative immersive video experience inside the home that will help welcome and educate guests and help the house serve as the gateway to the National Mall.
support for the lockkeeper’s restoration
The Trust for the National Mall is grateful to the many generous individual, corporate and foundation supporters who made the preservation and restoration of the Lockkeeper’s House possible:
Leadership Funders:
The Akridge Family Foundation
American Express
S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation
The Dr. Scholl Foundation
The Honorable Francis and Kathleen Rooney
Volkswagen Group of America
Additional generous gifts provided by:
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation
James and Maxine Farrell
GEICO
General Motors
Philip L. Graham Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Lanny and Susan Griffith
Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation
Pepco
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