Chevy Chase mansion listed for $25.9M is part of vice presidential history

A Chevy Chase mansion that boasts a storied Washington history — and not to mention a grand hall with 30-foot ceilings — is on the market for $25.9 million. It’s one of the most expensive homes for sale in the Washington region, and the Washington Post named a few fascinating factoids on this estate.

Architect Leon E. Dessez designed the home in 1891 at 9 Chevy Chase Circle for politician/Chevy Chase Land Co. founder Francis Newlands, who dubbed it “Ishpiming.” Many concerts and social events happened in the home’s grand hall, which once was outfitted with a pipe organ.

Dessez also designed the mansion that is now the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory, and Ishpiming was reportedly in the running in the 1960s to become a permanent home for the vice president of the United States. Apparently, Maryland didn’t take kindly to the idea of the home being annexed into the District. Today, the Post reports that there is interest from other countries in turning the lavish seven-bedroom mansion into an embassy.

• A Chevy Chase, Md. mansion is the second-most expensive house for sale in the D.C. area [WaPo]
• Call it Ishpiming [Bethesda Mag]