L. Ron Hubbard House, DuPont Circle, Washington DC
Blog Post for DC By Foot
Address: 1812 19th Street NW Washington DC 20009
Getting There: Metro - Red Line, DuPont Circle Stop
Admission is free. Tours can be arranged by appointment.
Timings: 10AM to 8PM
Even the most avid travelers may sometimes miss this hidden piece of historical
gem in DuPont Circle. The L. Ron Hubbard House on 19th Street is, indeed, a
fascinating destination for tourists and all those curious about scientology and its
founder. In addition to being a prolific writer, traveler, explorer, and an inventor, L.
Ron Hubbard was the founder of Scientology.
This three-story house was the Founding Church of Scientology and the very first
headquarters from where L. Ron Hubbard created the organizational structure that
guides the Church today. He used this house from 1957 through 1960 to train
students and conduct lectures.
The house is beautifully restored and showcases L. Ron Hubbard’s life events and
international travels. His biography helps you connect all the major incidents that
led him to conceptualize the interaction of science with the spirit. You can see on
display, his books, tapes, his administrative office, his Roneo mimeograph machine
and his collection of arts and artifacts from around the world.
The museum is well kept and the rather informative. An easy walk through the
museum is exceptionally rewarding as you learn about Dianetics and how Buddhism
and Hinduism have influenced scientology. You come to appreciate how L. Ron
Hubbard intertwined the strengths of Eastern religious thought with Western
rationale.
The third floor balcony of the museum offers a direct view of the Washington
Monument, which on a sunny clear day is breathtaking. So next time you are in
Washington and in the neighborhood on one our DuPont Circle and Embassy Row
Tour or Dark Side of DuPont Tour, why not join the likes of Tom Cruise and John
Travolta and visit the L. Ron Hubbard House.
