Our Story
We are a Quaker meeting house and venue with unique event spaces. Our building and gardens sit at the border of Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle and Kalorama Heights neighborhoods and, specifically, within the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic District.
Historic
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, our meeting house opened in 1930 during the administration of the Quaker president, Herbert Hoover. Built to serve as a house of worship and a gathering place for those wanting to “seek peace and pursue it,” the building was enlarged in 1950.
In 1970, we acquired the red brick Quaker House, Carriage House and garden at 2121 Decatur Place NW. Built in the 1920s and also on the National Register, these buildings today house a number of nonprofit organizations and small businesses as well as additional event spaces.
Recently renovated
In 2019, we reopened following a renovation to connect our buildings and make our unique indoor and outdoor event spaces more attractive, accessible, secure and environmentally sustainable. A glass main entrance lobby welcomes visitors. Enclosing a patio created a beautiful new conference room.. All three buildings are connected via a new corridor designed to complement the architecture of each with an elevator for accessibility.
Environmentally Sustainable
Reflecting our commitment to sustainability, our building includes solar panels and a green roof. Renewable cork floors cover three of our largest rooms and we compost most foods. Our renovation made our gardens more attractive and accessible — perfect for any event. Native plants reduce the flow of stormwater runoff from our property into DC’s sewer system.
An engaged community
We are an especially dynamic Meeting (the term Quakers use to describe their congregations). Our community continues to hold Quaker worship each week, on Sunday mornings and two evenings. In addition to over 300 members and numerous regular worship attenders, our community welcomes visitors from all over the world, activists working to make the world a better place, and others seeking to discern their spiritual path within the all-embracing approach of the Society of Friends (Quakers).
We invite you to consider our venue’s unique and historic event spaces for your wedding, celebration, or meeting.
“I visited several places for a small celebration of life service. I was overjoyed with the friendliness and responsiveness of everyone I dealt with at Friends Meeting of Washington. All of my interactions were excellent: all questions answered, terms were clear, and accommodations made to small requests…We held our event in the Living Room which is a lovely space and perfect for an intimate event with a reception. Day-of-event staff were extremely helpful and kind and made sure that everything came off without any problems. I enthusiastically recommend Friends Meeting of Washington.” ~ Marcia G.