Clara Barton House

The Clara Barton House and its surrounding 9-acre landscape were the home of Clara Barton—teacher, nurse, philanthropist, and founder of the American Red Cross.

Built in 1891 in Glen Echo with her longtime associate Dr. Julian B. Hubbell, the structure served multiple roles: initially as a residence and Red Cross warehouse (1891–1897), then as the organization’s national headquarters (1897–1904). Barton later remodeled it as her country home, where she lived until her death in 1912. Hubbell remained there until 1929.

Today, the house is the sole surviving element of Barton’s homestead. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and is now part of a 22-acre National Park Service cultural landscape alongside Glen Echo Park in Montgomery County, Maryland.

EverGreene conducted a comprehensive condition survey and materials investigation of both interior and exterior features to inform future restoration efforts.

Exterior work included selective probes to understand subsurface construction, moisture mapping, and detailed analysis of historic woodwork through surveying, sampling, and microscopy, along with mortar studies of the stone piers and brick chimneys.

Interior investigations combined archival research with an in-depth condition assessment to identify changes over time. The team explored behind modern finishes to locate original substrates, evaluated plaster for stability and composition, and analyzed decorative finishes through sampling and microscopy. Additional work included cleaning tests on the cotton muslin ceiling, identifying original locations for salvaged elements found in the basement, and conducting mortar analysis of interior brick and stone.