Doud House

Doud House

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Built in 1905 at 750 Lafayette Street, the Doud House hosted the wedding of Dwight Eisenhower and Mamie Doud in 1916 and served for decades as the transient army couple's home base. After Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, the house became the unofficial "Summer White House" because he came to Denver so often on vacation.

Doud House

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Located at 750 Lafayette Street in Denver’s East Seventh Avenue Historic District, the Doud House was built in 1905 and occupied by the Doud family from 1906 to 1960. It is significant for its association with Dwight and Mamie Doud Eisenhower, who were married in the house in 1916 and visited frequently over the next four decades. In 2005 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Douds

The Doud family was originally based in Boone, Iowa, where John Doud made a small fortune as the owner of a meatpacking business. Mamie Doud, the second of the family’s four daughters, was born in Boone in 1896. In the early twentieth century, the family moved because John’s wife Elvira disliked the Iowa climate. John Doud partially retired and the family moved to Colorado, first to Pueblo, then to Colorado Springs, and finally to Denver in 1905.

When the Douds arrived in Denver, they rented a house at 101 Logan Street. Within a year, they bought a new house at 750 Lafayette Street, which was in a stylish neighborhood then taking shape southeast of downtown. The house had been completed in summer 1905. Based on plans by the architect Edwin H. Moorman, it was a two-story Denver square with an exterior of taupe-colored brick. The house had a matching carriage house at the rear of the lot, which the Douds used as a garage for their automobiles starting in 1907.

The Eisenhowers

In 1915 Mamie Doud met the young army officer Dwight Eisenhower, then a recent West Point graduate, while the Doud family was spending the winter in San Antonio and Eisenhower was stationed at nearby Fort Sam Houston. The couple became engaged in early 1916 and were married on July 1, 1916, in a ceremony held in the Doud House’s first-floor music room.

As an army couple, the Eisenhowers spent much of the next three decades at different bases around the country and around the world. Throughout those years, they considered the Doud House their home base. Dwight Eisenhower became close friends with his in-laws, and his younger son, John, was born at the house in 1922 and named after John Doud.

Despite Dwight Eisenhower’s growing fame after World War II, the Eisenhowers continued to stay at the Doud House every time they came to Denver. It became perhaps the best-known address in the city, often featured in local and national stories as Eisenhower served as the army’s chief of staff, president of Columbia University, and the first commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The only time the Eisenhowers came to Denver and did not stay in the Doud House was in 1952, when they stayed at Eisenhower’s presidential campaign headquarters at the Brown Palace Hotel.

After Eisenhower’s victory in the 1952 election, the Doud House became known as the “Summer White House.” President Eisenhower spent several weeks in Denver during the summers of 1953, 1954, and 1955. The house became such a sightseeing attraction that Secret Service agents stayed in the carriage house’s north room and guarded the house around the clock. While staying at the house in September 1955, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. After recovering for two months at Fitzsimons General Hospital, he resumed his duties as president. He continued to visit Denver during the rest of his administration, but his visits were shorter and less active.

Today

John Doud died in 1951, and Elvira Doud died in September 1960. In July 1961, Mamie Eisenhower sold the family house to a real estate investor from Fort Collins who planned to use it as a base for business trips to Denver. In 1962 the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a bronze plaque near the house’s front steps to commemorate its significance. As late as the 1990s, neighbors on Lafayette Street still remembered the Eisenhowers from their frequent visits to the house. In the early 2000s, David and Nancy Osburn bought the Doud House and restored the interior to its original appearance.

10th Grade

Located at 750 Lafayette Street in Denver, the Doud House was built in 1905 and occupied by the Doud family from 1906 to 1960. It is significant for its association with Dwight and Mamie Doud Eisenhower, who were married in the house in 1916 and visited frequently over the next four decades. In 2005 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Douds

The Doud family was originally based in Boone, Iowa. Mamie Doud, the second of the family’s four daughters, was born in Boone in 1896. In the early twentieth century, the family moved to Colorado, first to Pueblo, then to Colorado Springs, and finally to Denver in 1905.

When the Douds arrived in Denver, they rented a house at 101 Logan Street. Later, they bought a new house at 750 Lafayette Street. The house had a matching carriage house at the rear of the lot, which the Douds used as a garage for their automobiles starting in 1907.

The Eisenhowers

In 1915 Mamie Doud met the young army officer Dwight Eisenhower, a recent West Point graduate. The couple became engaged in early 1916. They were married on July 1, 1916. The ceremony was held in the Doud House.

As an army couple, the Eisenhowers spent much of the next three decades at different bases around the country and around the world. Throughout those years, they considered the Doud House their home base. A son, John, was born at the house in 1922 and named after John Doud.

Despite Dwight Eisenhower’s growing fame after World War II, the Eisenhowers continued to stay at the Doud House every time they came to Denver. It became perhaps the best-known address in the city. The only time the Eisenhowers came to Denver and did not stay in the Doud House was in 1952, when they stayed at Eisenhower’s presidential campaign headquarters at the Brown Palace Hotel.

After Eisenhower’s victory in the 1952 election, the Doud House became known as the “Summer White House.” President Eisenhower spent several weeks in Denver during the summers of 1953, 1954, and 1955. While staying at the house in September 1955, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. After recovering for two months at Fitzsimons General Hospital, he resumed his duties as president. He continued to visit Denver during the rest of his administration, but his visits were shorter and less active.

Today

John Doud died in 1951 and Elvira Doud died in September 1960. In July 1961, Mamie Eisenhower sold the family house. In 1962 the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a bronze plaque near the house’s front steps to commemorate its significance. In the early 2000s, David and Nancy Osburn bought the Doud House and restored the interior to its original appearance.

8th Grade

The Doud House was built in 1905 at 750 Lafayette Street in Denver. The Doud family lived there from 1906 to 1960. It is significant for its association with Dwight and Mamie Doud Eisenhower. In 2005 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Douds

The Doud family originally lived in Boone, Iowa. Mamie Doud, the second of the family’s four daughters, was born in Boone in 1896. In the early twentieth century, the family moved to Colorado. They first moved to Pueblo, then to Colorado Springs, and finally to Denver in 1905.

When the Douds arrived in Denver, they rented a house at 101 Logan Street. Later, they bought a new house at 750 Lafayette Street. The home had a matching carriage house at the rear of the lot, which the Douds used as a garage.

The Eisenhowers

In 1915 Mamie Doud met Dwight Eisenhower, a young army officer who recently graduated from West Point. They were married on July 1, 1916. The ceremony was held in the Doud House.

As an army couple, the Eisenhowers spent much of the next three decades living away from Denver. However, during those years, they considered the Doud House their home base. A son, John, was born at the house in 1922.

Despite Dwight Eisenhower’s growing fame after World War II, the Eisenhowers continued to stay at the Doud House every time they came to Denver. The only time the Eisenhowers came to Denver and did not stay in the Doud House was in 1952, when they stayed at the Brown Palace Hotel, Eisenhower’s presidential campaign headquarters.

After Eisenhower’s victory in the 1952 election, the Doud House became known as the “Summer White House.” President Eisenhower spent several weeks in Denver during the summers of 1953, 1954, and 1955. While staying there in September 1955, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. After spending two months recuperating at Fitzsimons General Hospital, he resumed his duties as president. He continued to visit Denver during the rest of his presidency.

Today

John Doud died in 1951 and Elvira Doud died in September 1960. Mamie Eisenhower sold the family house in July 1961. In 1962 the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a bronze plaque near the house’s front steps to commemorate its significance. In the early 2000s, David and Nancy Osburn bought the Doud House and restored the interior to its original appearance.

4th Grade

The Doud House is located at 750 Lafayette Street in Denver. John and Elvira Doud started their family in Boone, Iowa. Mamie Doud, the second of their four daughters, was born in 1896. The family moved to Colorado. They first lived in Pueblo and then moved to Colorado Springs. The Douds moved to Denver in 1905.

When the Doud family arrived in Denver, they first rented a house and then bought the house. at 750 Lafayette. The house had two stories and had a matching carriage house at the rear of the lot. The Douds started using this for their cars in 1907.

The Eisenhowers

In 1915 Mamie Doud met a young army officer named Dwight Eisenhower. He had just graduated from West Point, a famous military school in the east. They were engaged in 1916 and got married on July 1. The wedding was held in the first-floor music room of the Doud’s home in Denver.

While Dwight served in the army, he and Mamie lived at army bases around the United States and the world for about thirty years. They always thought of the Doud House as their home base throughout those years. Their son John was born at the Doud House in 1922. He was named after his grandfather, John Doud.

Dwight was considered a hero of World War II. He became a five-star general. After World War II, General Eisenhower and his wife still visited the Doud House. It became the best-known address in Denver.

Dwight D. Eisenhower became the thirty-fourth president of the United States in 1953. The Doud House was known as the “Summer White House.” President Eisenhower spent several weeks in Denver during the summers of 1953, 1954, and 1955. While staying at the house in September 1955, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. He spent two months at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver. When he recovered from his heart attack, he returned to his duties as president. He continued to visit Denver during the rest of his two terms as president.

Today

John Doud died in 1951 and Elvira Doud died in 1960. Mamie sold the family house in 1961. In 1962 the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) placed a bronze plaque near the front steps of the house to remind visitors of its importance. In the early 2000s, new owners bought the Doud House. They remodeled the inside so it looked like it did when the Doud family lived there.

Author:

Encyclopedia Staff

References:

Ron Sladek, “John and Elivera Doud House,” National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (February 25, 2005).

Nancy L. Widmann, East Seventh Avenue Historic District: An Application for Historic Designation to the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission (Denver: Nancy Widmann, 1992).

Additional Information:

Marilyn Irvin Holt, Mamie Doud Eisenhower: The General’s First Lady (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2007).

Steve Neal, The Eisenhowers (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1984).

Jim Newton, Eisenhower: The White House Years (New York: Doubleday, 2011).

Category:

Places

Place:

Historic and Archaeological Sites

County:

Denver County

Keywords:

Dwight D. Eisenhower