Old Naval Observatory
Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.
About Old Naval Observatory
Old Naval Observatory, at 23rd and E Sts., NW, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct 15, 1966: the first place in Washington to be listed. It was named a National Historic Landmark on Jan 12, 1965, one of 75 in District of Columbia. Only 0 of District of Columbia’s 691 listings are older. The Register lists it for its military and science, at the national level. The listing covers 2 acres. Four more Register listings are within a quarter mile.
What it isAstronomical observatory in Washington, D.C,, United States. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 55 MB · National Archives↗1843 to today
- 1843Built
- 1965Named a National Historic Landmark
- 1966Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 2026On the Register for 60 years
Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 10 minutes
23rd and E Sts., NW, Washington · about 0.3 miles on foot, as the crow flies
27 more Register listings within half a mile
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Show the other 9
Other National Historic Landmarks nearby
The nearest Landmarks with a photo, within 25 miles, and the year each was named.
Memories of Old Naval Observatory
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about Old Naval Observatory
Is Old Naval Observatory on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Oct 15, 1966 (Register number 66000864).
Is Old Naval Observatory a National Historic Landmark?
Yes, since Jan 12, 1965. District of Columbia has 75 National Historic Landmarks, 74 of them in Washington.
Can you visit Old Naval Observatory?
Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.
Where can I read the history of Old Naval Observatory?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 55 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 117691851 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.