Babcock–Macomb House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites
Location	3415Massachusetts Avenue,NW,Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates	38°55′29″N77°4′4″W / 38.92472°N 77.06778°W /38.92472; -77.06778
Area	less than one acre
Built	1912
Architect	Arthur B. Heaton
Architectural style	Neo-Renaissance
NRHP reference No.	94001633[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 10, 1995
Designated DCIHS	February 1, 1989

TheBabcock–Macomb House is a historical residence located at 3415Massachusetts Avenue,NW,Washington, D.C.

Construction of the house was ordered by Kate Woodman Babcock, widow of former RepresentativeJoseph W. Babcock ofWisconsin. Babcock had had a successful career in the lumber industry while serving two terms in theWisconsin State Assembly. Upon taking office in theHouse of Representatives in 1893, Babcock was appointed to theCommittee on the District of Columbia. In 1894 he was appointed as chairman. In this position, Babcock gained local popularity and substantial wealth, due to the committee's role in development of the city.Constance McLaughlin Green wrote that Babcock "cleared $400,000 in Washington real estate ... simply by using [his] advance knowledge of which sections of the city were to get funds..."^[2]

In 1911, Babcock's widow Kate purchased two lots in the newly laid outMassachusetts Heights subdivision, established when Massachusetts Avenue was extended beyondFlorida Avenue. Mrs. Babcock purchased the two lots for $14,529 on October 18. The home was the first constructed in the neighborhood, which the city's planning committee hoped would attract the wealthy elite.^[2]

The architect wasArthur B. Heaton. Heaton opened his own office in Washington in 1900 at age 25. Between 1899 and 1906 he designed houses for the newCleveland Park neighborhood. From 1908 to 1920 he served as supervising architect for theWashington National Cathedral. During this period, Heaton and his family lived in Cleveland Park, and he designed many buildings for the neighborhood. His residential designs used numerous styles, includingGeorgian,Colonial Revival,Spanish mission, and theNeo-Renaissance of the Babcock–Macomb House.^[2]

Mrs. Babcock never moved into the new home. In 1917 she sold it to Tucker Sands, a vice president of the National Metropolitan Bank. Sands rented the house to tenants for two years, until he sold it in 1919 toArmy Colonel Augustus Canfield Macomb. The Macomb family lived in the home until 1982, when Edna Wilson Macomb, widow of Alexander Macomb, sold the property to theRepublic of Cape Verde, which has utilized it as theirembassy to the United States.^[2]

• Cape Verde–United States relations
• List of diplomatic missions of Cape Verde
• National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia

• Houses completed in 1912
• Diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C.
• Cape Verde–United States relations
• Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
• Renaissance Revival architecture in Washington, D.C.
• Diplomatic missions of Cape Verde
• Embassy Row
• 1912 establishments in Washington, D.C.
• Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)

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