The Best Courthouse museum in Washington, Virginia

The Dolley Madison House, located at 1520 H Street Northwest in Washington, DC, is a historic institution that serves as a courthouse, local government office, and museum. The house, built in 1818-1819 by Richard Cutts, is a yellow structure on the corner of H Street and Madison Place, near Lafayette Square and the White House. It was the residence of Dolley Madison during her retirement, where she was a celebrated former first lady and hosted a bustling social scene. Over the years, the house has seen various owners and renovations, including by naval officer Charles Wilkes and the Cosmos Club. In the 1950s, it was used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and later by government offices. The house played a significant role during the Civil War, with Major General George B. McClellan occupying it for a period.