Old Korean Legation Museum | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | Victorian |
Location | 15 Logan Circle NW (1500 13th Street NW) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Coordinates | 38°54′37.3″N 77°1′47.4″W / 38.910361°N 77.029833°W |
Completed | 1877 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Thomas M. Plowman |
Designations | |
Designated | July 25, 2024 |
Designated | September 9, 2024 |
Reference no. | 100010773 |
Designated | June 30, 1972 |
Part of | Logan Circle Historic District |
Reference no. | 72001426 |
Designated | November 9, 1994 |
Part of | Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District |
Reference no. | 94000992 |
Old Korean Legation | |
Hangul | 주미대한제국공사관 |
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Hanja | 駐美大韓帝國公使館 |
Revised Romanization | Ju Mi Daehan Jeguk Gongsagwan |
McCune–Reischauer | Chu Mi Taehan Cheguk Kongsagwan |
lit. 'Korean Imperial Legation in America' |
The Old Korean Legation Museum (Korean: 주미대한제국공사관) is a historic house museum located at 15 Logan Circle NW (also listed as 1500 13th Street NW) in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Built in 1877 as a residence for military officer and politician Seth Ledyard Phelps, the house served as the legation for the Joseon kingdom followed by the Korean Empire from 1889 to 1905 when Japan took control of Korea's government. The building was sold in 1910 for $10 (equivalent to $330 in 2023) and later served as a recreation center for African Americans, trade union hall, and private residence.
To many Koreans, the building was a reminder of Japan's forceful takeover of their country and the Korean loss of sovereignty. Following decades of offers from Koreans, the property was sold by its longtime owners in 2012 to the South Korean government's Cultural Heritage Administration and National Trust for the Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Korea. After undergoing a multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation, the Old Korean Legation Museum was opened in 2018. The Victorian style museum, which features a library, banquet hall, and small garden, is a contributing property to the Logan Circle Historic District and Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 2024.