Washington Hilton
Washington Hilton is a landmark Hilton hotel and major convention venue in Washington, D.C.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Washington Hilton is a large Hilton hotel at 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., positioned near the boundaries of the Kalorama Heights, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods. It is both a lodging property and a prominent political, media, conference, and entertainment venue. The hotel opened on March 25, 1965, after a groundbreaking ceremony on June 25, 1962. It was developed by Uris Buildings Corporation and designed by architect William B. Tabler on the former site of the Oak Lawn estate. Its distinctive double-arched structure became one of the recognizable large-scale hotel designs in the city, and the property was long associated with one of Washington's largest pillarless hotel ballrooms. The hotel's design and conference facilities reflected the security requirements of events involving the president of the United States. Developed less than two years after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the ballroom and meeting complex was planned with cooperation from the Secret Service. The property included a protected presidential route and a T Street entrance originally identified as the Presidential Entrance. This feature helped make the hotel a recurring venue for high-profile political gatherings and national organizations. Washington Hilton has hosted the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner, Washington Mardi Gras, and the National Prayer Breakfast. These events have given the property a continuing role in Washington's political and media calendar. Its large ballroom also made it a concert venue during the 1960s and 1970s, when performers including The Doors and Jimi Hendrix appeared there. In 1972, the hotel hosted the first International Conference on Computer Communications, an event associated with a public demonstration of emerging ARPANET technology. The property became internationally known after the March 30, 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan and others near the hotel's T Street NW exit as the president was leaving the building. Because of the incident, Washington Hilton has sometimes been referred to locally as the Hinckley Hilton. The event also reinforced the hotel's place in the history of presidential security and major U.S. political gatherings. The property changed its commercial name to Hilton Washington in 1998. In June 2007, it was purchased by an investment group involving former professional basketball player Magic Johnson and Lowe Enterprises. The hotel then underwent a reported $150 million renovation from 2009 to 2010. Following completion of the work, it resumed the Washington Hilton name. The renovation was part of the property's effort to maintain its position as a major full-service hotel and large-event destination in the competitive Washington, D.C. hospitality market. Washington Hilton's identity is therefore tied less to a standalone consumer product range than to its location, Hilton affiliation, architecture, event infrastructure, presidential-security history, and ability to accommodate large political, corporate, religious, media, and cultural gatherings. The supplied reference material also reports a 2026 incident in which President Donald Trump was evacuated from a White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard in the ballroom; because this event is dated in the future relative to much historical coverage, it should be independently verified before being treated as settled historical fact.
History
Washington Hilton occupies the former site of the Oak Lawn estate on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. The property was developed by Uris Buildings Corporation and designed by architect William B. Tabler. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 25, 1962, and the hotel opened on March 25, 1965. Its double-arched form and unusually large pillarless ballroom made it a notable addition to Washington's postwar hospitality and convention infrastructure. The hotel was conceived during a period when Washington was expanding its capacity for national political meetings, conferences, and large public events. Because the meeting and ballroom facilities were expected to accommodate presidential appearances, planning incorporated security considerations developed with the Secret Service. A protected presidential circulation route and a T Street entrance originally designated the Presidential Entrance became distinctive features of the property. During the 1960s and 1970s, Washington Hilton operated as more than a lodging venue. Its ballroom hosted concerts by major performers, including The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. In 1972, it hosted the first International Conference on Computer Communications, where attendees saw a demonstration of ARPANET technology. The hotel also became a regular site for Washington's institutional calendar, including the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner, Washington Mardi Gras, and the National Prayer Breakfast. The defining event in the hotel's history occurred on March 30, 1981. As President Ronald Reagan departed through the T Street NW exit, John Hinckley Jr. fired at the presidential party. Reagan and several other people were wounded. The attack caused the property to acquire the informal nickname Hinckley Hilton and permanently linked its public identity with presidential protection and the history of U.S. political violence. In 1998, the hotel was renamed Hilton Washington. Ownership changed in June 2007, when an investment group involving Magic Johnson and Lowe Enterprises acquired the property. A major renovation was conducted from 2009 through 2010. The reported renovation cost was $150 million, although the supplied reference does not provide a direct financial source beyond the cited encyclopedia material. After the renovation, the hotel reverted to the Washington Hilton name. In its current identity, Washington Hilton remains a Hilton-branded hotel and large-event venue serving Washington, D.C. Its historical significance rests on the combination of architecture, hospitality operations, political and media events, technology history, entertainment programming, and the 1981 attack on President Reagan. The supplied reference additionally describes a 2026 evacuation involving President Donald Trump at a White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard. That account should be verified against authoritative contemporary reporting before inclusion in a finalized historical record.
- 2010
Renovation completed and original name restored
[1]After the renovation was completed, the property returned to the Washington Hilton name.
- 2009
Renovation begins
[1]The property began a major renovation that continued through 2010.
- 2007
Change of ownership
[1]An investment group involving Magic Johnson and Lowe Enterprises acquired the hotel.
- 1998
Name changed to Hilton Washington
[1]The property changed its operating name from Washington Hilton to Hilton Washington.
- 1981
Assassination attempt on President Reagan
[1]John Hinckley Jr. attacked President Ronald Reagan and others near the hotel's T Street exit on March 30.
- 1972
International computer communications conference
[1]The hotel hosted the first International Conference on Computer Communications, including a demonstration connected with ARPANET technology.
- 1965
Hotel opens
[1]Washington Hilton officially opened on March 25, beginning operations as a major Hilton hotel and event venue in Washington, D.C.
- 1962
Groundbreaking ceremony
[1]A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 25 for the hotel project on the former Oak Lawn estate site.
Products and positioning
A landmark, full-service Hilton property focused on lodging, conferences, banquets, and nationally prominent events in Washington, D.C. Its positioning is reinforced by its distinctive architecture, central location, large ballroom, political and media clientele, and history of hosting presidential events.
Hotel accommodation · 1965
Guest rooms and suites
The core offering is lodging in a large, full-service Hilton property in Washington, D.C. The available reference identifies the hotel and its event role but does not provide a detailed room inventory, suite configuration, or specific room amenities.
Meetings and events · 1965
Ballroom and convention facilities
Washington Hilton is known for its extensive meeting and ballroom infrastructure, including a historically notable pillarless ballroom. These facilities support political dinners, conferences, banquets, media events, religious gatherings, and other large assemblies.
Hospitality services · 1965
Event and banquet services
The property provides a venue for recurring national and Washington-area events such as the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner, Washington Mardi Gras, and the National Prayer Breakfast. Specific menus and service packages are not detailed in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2009
Undertake major property renovationStrategyBackground
After the 2007 ownership change, the hotel pursued a substantial refurbishment to maintain its competitiveness as a major lodging and events venue.
Action taken
The property underwent renovation work from 2009 through 2010.
Aftermath
The renovation was completed in 2010, after which the hotel restored the Washington Hilton name.
Reported renovation cost. $150 million (2009-2010)
2007
Ownership transfer to investment groupM&ABackground
The property changed ownership during a period of continued investment in large Washington hospitality assets.
Action taken
An investment group involving Magic Johnson and Lowe Enterprises purchased the hotel.
Aftermath
The property subsequently underwent a major renovation from 2009 to 2010.
1998
Rename the property Hilton WashingtonStrategyBackground
The established Washington Hilton property adopted a modified commercial name during its operating history.
Action taken
The hotel changed its name to Hilton Washington.
Aftermath
Following the later renovation, the property resumed the Washington Hilton name.
Sources1 sources
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