Among the most dramatic hotel conversions in Washington — the former Riggs National Bank building (1891, 'the bank to the stars and stripes' that once held the accounts of Abraham Lincoln and 21 other presidents), whose ornate banking hall is now the hotel lobby and bar, with 181 rooms, a rooftop pool, and a position in Penn Quarter within walking distance of every major monument and museum.
Why We Chose It
Riggs National Bank was the most politically connected financial institution in American history — 'the bank of the presidents,' holding accounts for Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, and 21 other commanders-in-chief, as well as the official financial institution for the Department of the Treasury. The 1891 banking hall — with its soaring coffered ceilings, ornate ironwork, and monumental stone columns — is a dramatic interior spaces in Washington DC, and the hotel conversion has preserved it as the lobby and bar with full historical integrity. The 181 rooms are modern and stylish; the rooftop pool provides Penn Quarter views. Guest rooms feature stylishly hued soft furnishings with four suites named for first ladies. The location in Penn Quarter places the Riggs within walking distance of every major museum on the Mall, the Ford's Theater, and the restaurant corridors of 7th and 9th Streets. For visitors who want genuine architectural drama at rates somewhat below the historic hotels on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Riggs provides the best value in central DC.
What Stands Out
- The banking hall of the 'bank of the presidents': Abraham Lincoln and 21 other presidents held accounts here
- 1891 ornate banking hall preserved as the hotel lobby and bar: the most dramatic hotel interior in Washington
- 181 rooms with first-lady-named suites: the design concept that gives historical character to every room category
- Rooftop pool with Penn Quarter views: the most accessible rooftop amenity in the central museum district
- Walking distance to every major National Mall museum: the most practically located hotel in the Penn Quarter museum zone