Old Korean Legation Museum

Old Korean Legation Museum
Old Korean Legation Museum in 2022
Map
General information
Architectural styleVictorian
Location15 Logan Circle NW
(1500 13th Street NW)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates38°54′37.3″N 77°1′47.4″W / 38.910361°N 77.029833°W / 38.910361; -77.029833
Completed1877
Design and construction
Architect(s)Thomas M. Plowman
Designations
DesignatedJuly 25, 2024
DesignatedSeptember 9, 2024
Reference no.100010773
DesignatedJune 30, 1972
Part ofLogan Circle Historic District
Reference no.72001426
DesignatedNovember 9, 1994
Part ofGreater Fourteenth Street Historic District
Reference no.94000992
Old Korean Legation
Hangul
주미대한제국공사관
Hanja
駐美大韓帝國公使館
Revised RomanizationJu Mi Daehan Jeguk Gongsagwan
McCune–ReischauerChu Mi Taehan Cheguk Kongsagwan
lit.'Korean Imperial Legation in America'

The Old Korean Legation Museum (Korean주미대한제국공사관) 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.