Organization of American States

This Spanish Colonial style building was designed by Albert Kelsey and Paul P. Cret in 1908 for the new "Pan American Union" (now named the Organization of American States). It was financed by Andrew Carnegie, who declared that the building should be a "monumental" building to represent both American continents. It is located at 17th and Constitution, NW.

The interior of the main building is designed around a courtyard representative of typical residences in the southern American countries. There is a fountain in the center of the courtyard modeled and executed by Gertrude Vanderbuilt Whitney, which symbolizes various American groups, including Aztec, Zapotecan, and Mayan. These figures are also represented in the tile floor, done in reddish orange, with figures in black. The tile was made by Enfield Pottery in 1909.

There is a second building at the back of the garden, called the "Annex", which was originally built as the home of the governor. It contains a loggia which is completely encased in Enfield tile representing the South American cultures of the Aztec and Incans. These tiles were attributed to Mr. J. H. Dulles Allen, founder of Enfield pottery. These tiles were cleaned recently, and now look as if they were set only yesterday.

The tiles in the pool and the insets in the rail are also by Enfield, and there is a large statue of a seated "Sad Indian" at the head of the pool.

The main building is open only during business hours Monday through Friday. The annex is now a museum of American art, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5. It is entered from 201 18th Street NW.

Visted by Gaye Lindsey (glindsey@worldbank.org).

Patio Pavement,
Endfiled Tiles
Annex, Endfield Tile Details
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