Part 8/13:
Mary Vanderbilt Henderson’s "Bungalow Castle"—a Romanesque Revival fortress—was built in 1888 at the corner of 16th Street and Florida Avenue, at a time when the city was still developing. Her vision was to turn Meridian Hill into an enclave of European-style embassies and mansions. The castle featured battlements, turrets, and Moorish-influenced architecture, creating a fairy-tale estate that once hosted society dinners and philanthropic gatherings. After her death, the castle was repurposed into a club and private residence but was demolished in 1949, with only a stone gateway remaining.