Lafayette Square Opera House
| Belasco Theatre (after 1905) | |
Architect's rendering of the Lafayette Square Opera House
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| Address | 717 Madison Place NW Washington D.C. United States |
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| Coordinates | 38°53′58″N 77°02′05″W / 38.899462°N 77.034851°W |
| Owner |
John W. Albaugh, 1895 – 1905 |
| Type | Opera House |
| Capacity | 1,800 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 30, 1895 |
| Closed | 1940 |
| Demolished | 1964 |
| Years active | 1895 - 1940 |
| Architect | Wood & Lovell |
John W. Albaugh, 1895 – 1905
The Lafayette Square Opera House was an Opera House built in 1895, at 717 Madison Place, NW in Washington D.C.. It was dedicated on 30 September 1895 by Lillian Russell, one of the most well known actress of the time, who was there to perform in Tzigane. Reginald De Koven, composer of the opera, led the orchestra at Russell's request.
The Lafayette Square Opera House as built by John W. Albaugh, on behalf of the Lafayette Square Opera House Company. It was completed in September 1895 at a cost of 250,000 dollars ($7.2 million in present day terms). Located on Madison Place NW, just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, the theater faced Lafayette Square and the White House. The site, originally the home of Commodore John Rodgers, was noted for a history of tragic events and believed to be haunted. It was there that Congressman, later Civil War General, Daniel Sickles killed the district attorney for the District of Columbia, Philip Barton Key II, son of Francis Scott Key. Following the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth's co-conspirator, Lewis Powell, attempted to take the life of Secretary of State William H. Seward, who was living there at the time. The property was later purchased by former Secretary of State James G. Blaine, and it was there that he and two of his children, Walker and Alice, died.
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