This octagonal building of stone, topped by two lead squirrels, was completed by 1935 and dedicated to the Blisses’ friends Vernon and Charlotte Kellogg. A poem by Mrs. Kellogg is set in lead letters on the inside along the cornice: “Feathers in a row / Measured left to right– / How shall you chart the morning / How track the heels of night.”
After 1940, the Catalogue House was used to display information regarding plantings in the garden. Today it is used to exhibit historic photographs and reproductions of plates from the Library’s Rare Book Collection, as well as a copy of Ernest Clegg’s 1935 watercolor of the Dumbarton Oaks estate that Mildred Bliss had commissioned as a gift for her husband.
More Exhibit Items
This small greenhouse is one of the oldest structures still standing on the grounds of Dumbarton Oaks.
This grassy terrace, shaded by a tall oak tree, provides a panoramic view of the entire estate.
The wide, shady branches of an enormous beech tree stretch over this quiet enclosed space.
The Urn Terrace serves as an ivied transition between the Beech Terrace, Box Walk, and Rose Garden.
A riotous variety of roses fills this sunny space between the Urn and Fountain Terraces.
A traditional flower garden in a blend of English Cottage and Arts and Crafts style.
The story of a terrier given to a Neapolitan girl by a French admiral inspired this column.
A shallow pool sits at the bottom of a small brick amphitheater, bordered by a stand of bamboo.
This narrow brick walk wends through a dreamlike woodland spotted with daffodils and hyacinths.
Hidden near the edge of the gardens, Lilac Circle offers a secluded spot for rest and contemplation.
When the trees blossom in springtime, this hillside becomes one of the gardens’ most magical spaces.
Blooming forsythia turns this corner of the gardens bright yellow at the beginning of spring.
Elaborate stonework and low flowerbeds play off trellises of wisteria in this stately courtyard.
This small room features custom stonework, wrought-iron furniture, and a fountain ornamented with various constellations.
The swimming pool and beautifully decorated loggia attest to Dumbarton Oaks’ history as a private residence.