On this day in Arlington history, November 28, 1972: Quarters 1, Fort Myer is named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Quarters 1 is one of six large residences on “General’s Row” that flanks the west side of Whipple Field, the former parade ground of Fort Myer. It was built on Fort Myer’s ridge, which is a rise with views to the Potomac River and Washington, DC to the east. It is a 2+1⁄2-story brick building, with a side gable roof and a projecting front cross gable. A single-story porch spans the front and beyond to the left, creating a porte-cochere. It is supported by paired round columns on pedestals. The interior of the building has only seen modest alteration since its construction, and its exterior is also little changed beyond the addition of a sun porch on one side. The house has 21 rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of living space.
The house was completed on 27 May 1899, and has, since its occupation in 1908 by J. Franklin Bell, housed the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Its most prominent resident was Dwight D. Eisenhower, who made his family residence here during his tenure as Chief of Staff, 1945–1948. Douglas MacArthur also lived here while he was Chief of Staff, 1930–1935.
