A Historical Landmark

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia on Washington’s "Embassy row" occupies the former Walsh Mansion, located at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest. Built as a private residence at the turn of the 20th century, the building is now known as a historic landmark in the nation’s capital. The wealth and colorful lives of its former occupants add to the mansion’s historical interest.
Turn of the Century Mansion, Beaux Arts Style
The building is one of several Beaux Arts Mansions on Massachusetts Avenue built by the more affluent inhabitants of the capital during the years between 1890 and 1930 when the American society was greatly influenced by the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. This design influence is reflected in the architecture of the Walsh mansion, which reveals the personality of the owner as well as the character of that period. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Thomas F. Walsh, who built the residence, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland and immigrated to the United States at the age of nineteen. He made a fortune in Colorado gold mining as the sole owner and developer of Camp Bird Mine at Ouray, Colorado, one of the richest gold mines in the world. Mr. Walsh married the former Miss Carrie Bell Reed when he was a prospector, and toward the end of the century, the Walshes moved from Colorado to Washington, D.C. They purchased the present site of the Embassy for their residence on April 30, 1901. Construction began soon after and the mansion was occupied by the Walsh family in the late fall of 1903. The residence was built for $ 853,000, designed by Henry Andersen of New York.

A Glittering History of Washington Life

The Walsh residence provided a splendid setting for many functions hosted by the gold miner who had struck it rich. During the Theodore Roosevelt administration, the Walsh mansion was the scene of some of the most lavish entertaining in Washington. The Evening Star, December 8, 1903, described a dinner given by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh: "The dinner table was adorned with yellow orchids of a very beautiful variety, their coloring being the keynote to the superb decoration of the board, where a service of gold made from glittering nuggets taken from the Camp Bird Mine, was used for the first time."
On one occasion, December 28, 1903, the Walshes gave a small ball and cotillion in honor of Miss Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. In anticipation of the visit by King Leopold of Belgium to the United States in 1903 for the St. Louis Exposition, the Walshes had an apartment on the third floor of the residence especially designed and decorated for the King. Although King Leopold was unable to come to the United States, his nephew King Albert and Queen Elizabeth came October 28, 1919 for a three-day visit. The Vice President and Mrs. Marshal, acting on behalf of President Wilson (who was ill at the time), gave a state dinner at the Walsh mansion. After dinner, Queen Elizabeth presented Mrs. Walsh the "Order of Elizabeth Queen of the Belgians" for her Belgian relief activities. During World War I, Washington volunteers for Belgian relief work had used The Walsh mansion.

The Hope Diamond

Mrs. Carrie Walsh occupied the house until her death in 1932, although the property’s title was passed earlier on to her daughter, Evalyn. As the daughter of Thomas F. Walsh and the wife of Edward B. McLean, an influential newspaper owner, Evalyn Walsh McLean was a well-known society figure in the capital. Evalyn inherited the house, but left it vacant for a while since she was living at "Friendship," the McLean estate on Wisconsin Avenue, Northwest. Evalyn Walsh was also distinguished as the last private owner of the fabulous 44 1/2 carat Hope Diamond the sale of which was negotiated at the Walsh residence by Pierre Cartier, the American representative of the jewelry firm of Cartier Freres, Paris. The Hope Diamond, now in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, is a blue-colored Indian diamond which, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is probably a portion of the missing stone stolen from the French Crown Jewels with the Regent and never recovered. H.T. Hope, who had purchased the diamond for $ 18,000, gave the stone its name. Evalyn’s mother continued to occupy the mansion, on and off, after the McLean moved in 1916. It was after Carrie B. Walsh’s death in 1932 that the stately mansion fell vacant and began to be used by government organizations.

The U.S. Government Use

The Walsh mansion was occupied in 1936 by the U.S. Suburban Resettlement Administration, thereafter in 1937 by the U.S. Rural Electrification Commission, and then from 1941 to 1951 by the American Red Cross. During World War II, the building was used rent-free by the Washington Chapter of the American Red Cross for its many activities. Red Cross women manufactured surgical dressings and set up classes for nurse’s aides in the building. It also served as headquarters for emergency first aid and the mobile canteen.

The Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia

On December 19, 1951, Dr. Ali Sastroamidjojo, the first Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, purchased the present building at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for its chancery at the mere cost $335,000. The Indonesian government spent an additional $ 75,000 to preserve the massive structure of more than 50 rooms and restore the character of the original interior decoration.

The Entrance and The Central Hall

The highly arched doorway with ornate grille-work over its huge plate glass doors reflects a rich and flamboyant style. The Indonesian coat-of-arms now hangs over the entrance door. The entrance is framed on either side with green-veined marble Ionic columns which are flanked by two demon-like statues from Bali. These statues are believed to possess the power to ward off evil and to attract good. The main entrance opens to a rectangular hall in the middle of the building, with space extending upward through the second and third floors. The open space and the light from above draws one’s eyes upward to the stained glass skylight, which covers the entire area, bounded by the surrounding promenade. The skylight is at the fourth floor level beneath another protective plain skylight at roof level. An artistic expression reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th century, this skylight illuminates the center of the building. The grand staircase in the middle of the central hall forms a "Y" shape, rising to the first landing where a marble statue of two Roman dancers, stands as part of the original furnishings. The staircase extends from each side of the statue to the second floor ending at a promenade gallery from which access to the second floor suites can be gained. The floor layout on the third floor is similar, so that looking over the railings on either side of the gallery reveals the floors below.

The Presidents Room

The rooms on the first floor are large with high ceilings displaying magnificent pastiches from European models of ornamentation. To the left of the main entrance is the Louis XIV salon, formerly used as a drawing room and now used for various functions. In October 1999, Ambassador Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti renamed the room the Presidents Room, from the large photographs of the first four Indonesian Presidents which are displayed each side of the walls.

The Garuda Room

Adjoining the ornate Presidents Room is the music room or the organ room, so-called for its massive baroque-style wood organ built into one wall. The walls have gold-colored damask which enhances the dark woodwork of this room. Built into the walls are richly carved wood cabinets with glass doors, where silverwork, curios, sculptures, batik, and other Indonesian art objects from various Indonesian islands are on display.
The Indonesian coat of arms, a golden eagle or Garuda, hangs over the mantel of an elaborately carved fireplace against the south wall. The eagle is a symbol of creative energy. Its principal color, gold, suggests the greatness of the nation. The black color represents nature. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail and 45 on the neck. These figures stand for the date of Indonesia’s independence proclamation: August 17, 1945. The motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity), is enshrined on a banner held in the eagle’s talons. This old Javanese motto was introduced by Empu Tantular, a saint of the Majapahit Kingdom, in the 15th Century. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian people despite their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

The New Building

In June 1982, Ambassador Ashari Danudirdjo inaugurated a new building adjacent to the old mansion as its new additional office area. The new building, designed by The Architects Collaborative of Cambridge, Mass, is a crisp exercise in modern art. Passing from the old building into the new structure through doors in the conservatory can be mildly overwhelming, as one would perceive with some relief, the transition from a profusion. The eye turns with a certain relief from the profusion of curves and ornament in the old mansion to the sharp simplicity of the new building.

Chronology of Ambassadors

1. Ali Sastroamidjojo Feb. 20, 1950 – Feb. 27, 1953
2. Moekarto Notowidigdo Oct. 24, 1953 – Sept. 1, 1960
3. Zairin Zain Apr. 17, 1961 – Apr. 20, 1965
4. Lambertus Nicodemus Palar May 5, 1965 – Apr. 6, 1966
5. Suwito Kusumowidagdo Jan. 13, 1967 – Mar. 11, 1968
6. Soedjatmoko May 6, 1968 – July 31, 1971
7. Sjarif Thajeb Dec. 6, 1971 – Apr. 12, 1974
8. Roesmin Nurjadin Oct. 4, 1974 – Nov.27, 1977
9. Ashari Danudirdjo Feb. 15, 1978 – Jul. 12, 1982
10. Hasnan A. Habib Sept. 8, 1982 – Oct. 6, 1985
11. Soesilo Soedarman Feb. 18, 1986 – Apr. 11, 1988
12. Abdul Rachman Ramly Nov. 9, 1988 – Jul. 18, 1993
13. Arifin Siregar Oct. 1, 1993 – Nov 21, 1997
14. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti Mar. 16,1998 – Juni 2001
15. Drs. Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat, Feb. 2002 - 2005
16. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Feb. 2006 - Present

Chronology of Residents

1903-1910: Thomas F. Walsh
1911-1911: Mrs. Carrie B. Walsh
1912-1916: Edward Beale McLean
1917-1917: Mrs. Carrie B. Walsh
1918-1918: Vacant
1919-1919: Charles P. Stone
1920-1932: Mrs. Carrie B. Walsh
1932-1935: Vacant
1936-1936: U.S. Suburban Resettlement Commission
1937-1937: U.S. Rural Electrification Commission
1938-1941: Vacant
1942-1951: American Red Cross
1952-today: Indonesian Embassy