The building of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States is not only a diplomatic mission, but also an important historical monument of the United States. It was in the historic Forrest-Marbury House in Georgetown, where the Ukrainian diplomatic mission currently operates, that events related to the founding of Washington, D.C., the creation of the American national anthem, and one of the most famous cases of the US Supreme Court took place.
This was reported by Embassy of Ukraine in the United States.
“I am standing in the George Washington Memorial Room in the historic Forrest-Marbury House in Georgetown. Today, the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States is located here. But this house also remembers many other historical events that took place at the early stage of the formation of the United States of America,” said Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna.
As the ambassador noted, it was in this house that a historic dinner was held on March 29, 1791, with the participation of the first US President George Washington and local landowners. During the meeting, they agreed to transfer land for the creation of a new federal capital.
“President George Washington attended a dinner in this very house, where local landowners agreed to transfer land for the creation of a new US capital - Washington, D.C.,” emphasized she.
The Forrest-Marbury House, located at 3350 M Street NW in Georgetown, was built between 1788 and 1790 in the Federal style. Its owner was Uriah Forrest, an officer of the Continental Army and an associate of George Washington.
Historians believes the building witnessed three defining episodes in American history. The first is associated with the founding of the US capital. The second is with the creation of the future national anthem of the country, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” because the author of the text, Francis Scott Key, lived nearby. The third is with the landmark court case Marbury v. Madison of 1803, which established the principle of judicial review and became the foundation of modern American constitutional law.
In 1997, the George Washington Memorial Hall was opened in the embassy building. Among its exhibits is a copy of the key to the Bastille, presented by the hero of the American and French Revolutions, the Marquis de Lafayette, to George Washington after the capture of the Bastille in 1789.
“This room also houses a copy of the key to the Bastille, which the Marquis de Lafayette presented to George Washington after the French Revolution. This is also a very powerful symbol of freedom,” Stefanyshyna noted.
According to her, the history of the American struggle for independence remains relevant today for Ukrainians.
“And as America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence, the story of its struggle for freedom continues to inspire the world and every Ukrainian today – in our own struggle for freedom and independence. We stand together for what is right,” the ambassador emphasized.
The Forrest-Marbury House was meticulously restored in 1988, and since 1992 has officially served as the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States. Its acquisition was made possible thanks to the support of the Ukrainian-American community.
Photo: rubryka.com