Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Kraken Habitat
Skye Textile Mill
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Inside the Rothko Chapel
These Monuments Showcase the Beauty of Brutalism
1 day ago
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
2 days ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
2 days ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Tree Mansion of Archibald Walk

Tree Mansion of Archibald Walk

Depending on who you ask, this controversial treehouse is either a charmingly creative child's playhouse or an illegal encroachment on public land.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
nickblossom
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Tree Mansion of Archibald Walk   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  nickblossom / Atlas Obscura User
Tree Mansion of Archibald Walk   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

This cheerful and rather fully-featured treehouse slightly overhangs a pedestrian pathway known as Archibald Walk in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., but an ongoing legal battle could determine its fate

Some neighbors have objected to the treehouse's existence, since it overhangs a public right of way (by about 20 inches), and have lobbied for its removal. The owners thought they had gotten all the correct permits before building it, but things got complicated after the neighbors pushed for its removal. 

In 2016 after pressure from neighbors, the District Department of Transportation apparently did order the treehouse removed, but the owners were able to obtain a temporary permit that saved the treehouse, and most of the neighbors who objected either moved away or abandoned their campaign by late 2016.

However, since the city was now involved, the treehouse's future remained uncertain. The owners say that teams of attorneys representing the city would show up year after year tasked with finding a legal reason to remove the treehouse.

The owners have taken their countersuit against the city all the way to federal court, where they say they faced seven senior attorneys before finally getting the city to allow the treehouse to remain for at least long enough for their children to grow up. The treehouse has had community support in many ways, from monetary donations and verbal support to free pruning and lots of D.C.-area press.

Related Tags

Treehouses Disputed Territories Alleyways

Know Before You Go

Please note that the treehouse is on private property in a residential area. Please don't disturb the neighbors or access the treehouse without permission! It's hard to miss from the outside as you walk Archibald's Walk.

Community Contributors

Added By

nickblossom

Edited By

blimpcaptain

  • blimpcaptain

Published

September 3, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.wusa9.com/video/news/local/dc/capitol-hill-treehouse-saved/65-27ca9537-0224-46fd-aee4-5b9ddfec54a9
  • https://capitolhillcorner.org/2016/01/11/tree-mansion-has-archibald-walk-residents-up-in-arms/
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/after-a-three-year-neighborhood-dispute-the-case-of-a-capitol-hill-treehouse-lands-in-federal-court/2018/01/17/61229ec0-fb10-11e7-ad8c-ecbb62019393_story.html
  • https://dcist.com/story/18/12/28/what-do-fights-over-treehouse-castles-gardens-and-waffles-have-in-common-alleys/
  • https://dcist.com/story/18/12/28/what-do-fights-over-treehouse-castles-gardens-and-waffles-have-in-common-alleys/
  • https://capitolhillcorner.org/2016/01/11/tree-mansion-has-archibald-walk-residents-up-in-arms/
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/after-a-three-year-neighborhood-dispute-the-case-of-a-capitol-hill-treehouse-lands-in-federal-court/2018/01/17/61229ec0-fb10-11e7-ad8c-ecbb62019393_story.html
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/this-treehouse-extends-20-inches-into-an-alley-and-its-dividing-the-neighborhood/2016/01/14/cfa5338c-bb0f-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html
Tree Mansion of Archibald Walk
522 Archibald Walk
Washington, District of Columbia, 20003
United States
38.882125, -76.99689
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Capitalsaurus Court

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Library of Congress Card Catalog

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Transportation Walk

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Nearby Places

Capitalsaurus Court

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Library of Congress Card Catalog

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The Transportation Walk

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Related Places

  • Chiang Mai, Thailand

    John Gallery The Tree House

    A local Thai artist started building this gallery in 1980.

  • lining up for the slide

    Malahat, British Columbia

    Malahat Skywalk

    This 820-foot-high spiral ramp is a walkway to the sky.

  • Tainan City, Taiwan

    Snail Alley

    The residence of a Taiwanese literary scholar sits down an alleyway adorned with depictions of snails.

  • Trompettersteeg in 2024.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Trompettersteeg

    Widely advertised as Amsterdam’s narrowest street, this passage was once a highlight of the Red Light District before its windows closed.

  • Takasugi-an

    Chino, Japan

    Fujimori Tea Houses

    High in the trees or suspended between cables, these surreal structures are the works of a unique Japanese architect.

  • Yokohama, Japan

    Noge-Miyakobashi Shotengai (Harmonica Alley)

    This retro izakaya street is a unique legacy of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

  • Stow-on-the-Wold, England

    The Tures

    Built for herding sheep, these tiny winding lanes with medieval origins and distinctive series of narrow turns are charming walkways for humans today.

  • The marker at the entrance to historic Packet Alley in New Castle, Delaware.

    New Castle, Delaware

    Packet Alley

    Many of the most significant figures in American history once hopped on a stagecoach in this alleyway on their way to more noteworthy destinations.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.