The Heurich mansion was built in 1892-4 for German-American immigrant Christian Heurich (1842-1945), whose brewery was the largest in DC and a household name. It is the city’s best-preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque residential architecture and one of the most landmarked interiors in DC. The mansion incorporated many technological advancements, including metal speaking tubes, electric lighting, burglar alarms, and “fireproofing.” The interior decoration and furnishings were made by numerous German-American craftspeople. The house remained in the family until 1956, when it was bequeathed to the local Historical Society. In 2003, a family-created non-profit purchased the house and turned it into a museum.