In the nineteenth century, Commodore David Porter built his mansion on a
prominent hill sitting directly north of the White House, and the rest
of Meridian Hill's history is indelibly tied to the fabric of
Washington. John Quincy Adams once resided in Porter's mansion. Union
troops used the estate and its lands during the Civil War. Later, part
of the old estate was famously developed by Mary Henderson into a noted
group of embassy mansions, and the extraordinary Meridian Hill Park was
created. The rest of the land became a diverse, thriving residential
neighborhood. Join local author Stephen McKevitt as he chronicles the
fascinating story of this interesting urban locale in the nation's
capital.