A glittering tree beckons travelers exploring Washington, D.C., to settle in for a winter’s rest at The Hay-Adams, a boutique h otel surrounded by some of the country’s most significant points of interest. Panoramic views overlook St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, the White House, and the Washington Monument.
A heritage of hospitality characterizes the auberge, named for famous friends who inhabited the area in the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century. “The Five of Hearts” comprised John Hay, private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and, later, secretary of state; his wife, Clara; Henry Adams, acclaimed historian and descendant of two United States presidents; his wife, Marian (“Clover”); and Clarence King, a noted geologist and author. The families’ adjoining properties became a gathering place for many of the era’s prominent figures.…
