Jackie Kennedy’s Georgetown Mansion Goes on Sale

Jackie Kennedy's Georgetown Mansion, Which Became Her Home After President Kennedy's Assassination, Goes on Sale.

Oct 17, 2023By Angela Davic, News, Discoveries, In-depth Reporting, and Analysis
Jackie Kennedy's
The Historic Georgetown Mansion Jackie Kennedy. Via Alex PennCove Tucker

 

Jackie Kennedy’s Georgetown mansion goes on auction and could fetch $20 million at auction. Overall, she acquired the mansion after President Kennedy’s assassination. This mansion is in Federalist style, almost as old as the country itself, and became home for her and her children (Caroline and John Jr.). This happened in early 1964 after she left the White House.

 

Jackie Kennedy’s New Home Couldn’t Give Her Privacy

Jackie Kennedy's
The home’s entryway. Photo: Sean Shanahan. Courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty.

 

But, she soon realized it wasn’t able to give her the privacy she needed. The property carried the name of a “foremost tourist attraction” in a 1964 Washington Post piece. Every weekend, throngs of onlookers crowded in front, expecting to see the distraught household. Also, several sightseeing vehicles filled the roadways. She ultimately chose the decision to relocate to New York City in September of that year.

 

She chose the extreme seclusion she might have at 1040 Fifth Avenue, away from the glaring spotlight of fame. The mansion cost $26.5 million when it first went on sale this year. Sometime after, the price reduced to $19.5 million. It is now auctioned off by Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions. The auction began on October 10 and will last until October 24. Although there is no prerequisite offer because it is a non-reserve purchase, starting offers are anticipated to range between $5 million and $11 million.

 

Jackie Kennedy's
A bedroom in the home. Photo: Sean Shanahan. Courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty.

 

The primary residence was completed in 1794. Also, it found its place on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1976. Its newest proprietor, the late building mogul David W. Hudgens, purchased the land in 2017. He emerged it with two other places —built in 1880 and 1950. Overall, the mogul wanted to build a large home with 13 bedrooms that would be 16,000 square feet.

Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox

Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter

 

Thomas Beall First Owned the Home

The Georgetown mansion.
The dining room features a gold-leaf ceiling. Photo: Sean Shanahan. Courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty.

 

The First Lady wasn’t the manor’s only notable occupant. It was built in 1794 by Thomas Beall, Georgetown’s second governor in 1791. From 1916 to 1920, the location served as the residence of Secretary of War Newton D. Baker under President Woodrow Wilson. He performed his meetings there. Also, he prepared for the country’s involvement in World War I.

 

Yolande Fox, Miss America in 1951, was another noteworthy resident of the house in addition to Jackie Kennedy. She is famous for choosing intelligence over beauty by declining to compete in a bikini. She later wed Universal Pictures’ former vice-president and film mogul Matthew Fox.

 

john kennedy assassinated car 1963 photograph
President John F. Kennedy, moments before he was assassinated, 1963, via HISTORY

 

Later, she purchased the Georgetown home, where she lived until her passing in 2016. After that, the property was purchased by Hudgens, who documented its long history in an 88-page dossier that will be furnished to the highest bidder on October 24.

Author Image

By Angela DavicNews, Discoveries, In-depth Reporting, and AnalysisAngela is a journalism student at the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade and received a scholarship for continued education in Prague. She completed her internship at the daily newspaper DANAS and worked as an executive editor at Talas.