This Washington, DC, Rowhouse From 1794 Is on the Market

The Wheat Row homes were constructed by James Greenleaf starting in 1794. The Wheat Row name comes from an early 19th-century resident of one of the homes, John Wheat, a gardener and messenger for the US Senate.

The buildings later took on non-residential functions in the mid-20th century. In the 1940s and ’50s, the Barney Neighborhood House, a community service organization, occupied multiple Wheat Row homes, including the one for sale. Other units were used as a location for the US Service Men’s Club and a daycare, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

With their inclusion in the Harbour Square development project in the ’60s, the homes all reverted back to residences.

Though the four-floor home is narrow and compact, the 12-foot ceilings make for a spacious interior.

Hardwood floors cover nearly the entire house, including the stairs.

The home has eye-catching millwork in nearly every room. According to Stewart, the home’s wooden moldings date back to the 19th century and possibly earlier.

This extensive woodworking was common in this era of homes, with moldings and trims produced by skilled artisans influenced by European styles, according to Pebbles & Thorns Woodworking.

In multiple rooms, there are low-hanging chandeliers or candle-like light fixtures, once again defined by the colonial era.

Chandeliers were once a symbol of wealth and extravagance, and while that standard is still reflected in modern design, the introduction of electric lighting in the late 19th century allowed for more affordable chandeliers, per The Examiner News.

Even though the elevator was added in 2005, it has a classic charm, with all-wooden walls inside.

The home’s large kitchen was last renovated over half a century ago, meaning it would need about $100,000 of work to bring it into the modern era, by Stewart’s estimates.

Alternatively, a buyer could work to restore the kitchen’s true colonial look and feel with classic wooden cabinets and finishes.

This not only creates the potential for multiple residents, but the home’s four different floors also allow for privacy.

The home’s 1950s bathrooms could also be renovated. One quirk is split bathrooms on the third and fourth floors — they have a shower and toilet/sink separated by a wall.

Common for the time period, the property’s centerpieces are its seven fireplaces, which appear on every single floor of the home.

Although this defining feature adds to the home’s quaintness, it creates hurdles for any buyer considering renovation. Stewart said that the rooms’ layout around the fireplaces complicates any attempts at reconfiguration.

“We’re looking for a buyer who likes a home that is older in style and feel and embraces the uniqueness of the property, or somebody that has the vision to restore the majesty of the property, but refresh and renew it into a 21st-century rowhouse,” Stewart said.

With lots of opportunities for renovation, the home could appeal to buyers looking for a project.

“It poses a good value for someone who has a vision,” Stewart added.

Stewart said the housing market in Southwest Washington, DC, has been struggling after a wave of job cuts last year.

Historic homes like the Wheat Row home could attract outside buyers looking to stake their claim in pieces of American history.

The Wheat Row homes sit along DC’s Washington Channel, running parallel to the Potomac River.

Wheat Row residents, as part of the Harbour Square co-op, get access to a rooftop deck, which overlooks the water. Other co-op amenities include a shared heated pool, gardens, and a fitness center.

The home sits in the middle of a booming modern neighborhood known as The Wharf, which has undergone redevelopment over the past two decades.

The area is filled with theaters and concert halls, offices, restaurants, and public spaces.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in February 2026 and was updated in July 2026 to reflect the property’s price drop.