Home of the Commandants

Today I got the opportunity to visit Quarters 6 at the Marine Barracks - a.k.a. the house of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. (The Commandant is the highest-ranking officer in the Marine Corps and sits on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.) The tour was arranged by one of the historians in my office, and the Barracks is just a short walk from the Navy Yard.

The house is currently home to General Robert Neller and his wife (and their two Labradors, Maddy and Molly). The tour was led by several enlisted docents, and it was surprisingly intimate. We got to wander through nearly all of the rooms....

We saw General Neller's actual bedroom..

And we even got to sit on the furniture. I sat on the sofa you see here....which just happens to be the sofa Brigadier General Archibald Henderson died on in 1859!!! Apparently his ghost still appears from time to time.

General Neller's study, which I'm quite envious of.

I always love a good cape.

The items on the piano here belonged to John Philip Souza, as did that gorgeous Tiffany lamp.

The Prince Philip Suite, where the royal consort actually stayed.

The sun room opens up onto the parade ground, where I hope to be attending an evening parade this summer!