Evangeline Bruce was the author of one book, the biography Napoleon and Josephine: An Improbable Marriage (1994), which she finished near the end of her life. She was the wife of a U.S. Ambassador (with postings in France, Germany, Brussels, and China), and was renowned as a society hostess and a great beauty. She spoke six languages fluently, and founded Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a DC nonprofit serving runaways and abused teenagers.
Her New York Times obituary quotes her as describing DC as “strictly nuts and bolts.” She said, “It is rare here to discuss things in conceptual or philosophical terms. I like living here better than anyplace else in the world, but the first thing I notice when I leave to spend some time in Europe is the conversation, the variety, the non-philistine approach.”
The Homes
1405 34th St. NW, Washington, DC
A Federal-style brick mansion, this house was expanded along 34th Street with several telescoping additions, and today has 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 7 fireplaces, a ballroom, lap pool, guest cottage, greenhouse, the original smoke house, and two wine cellars. The large tiered garden was designed by Rose Greeley in 1955. The house is featured in the book Splendours of Georgetown: 25 Architectural Masterpieces (Tudor Place Historic House, 2001).
Marked with an historic plaque.
Evangeline Bruce
1405 34th St. NW
Located in Georgetown neighborhood, Northwest- West of Rock Creek