About

Download timeline PDF2020 is a milestone year for Meridian as we celebrate our 60^th Anniversary of the organization. Since 1960, Meridian has served as a place where global leaders gather, future leaders are found and collaboration thrives. Today, our mission to strengthen engagement between the United States and the world is more important than ever. Even through the most challenging of times, Meridian continues to connect leaders around the world through diplomacy, global leadership and culture.

This anniversary year is an opportunity to reflect on Meridian’s history and look ahead as we continue to successfully grow our impact. We would not be where we are today without our network of global leaders, and we are excited to engage Meridian friends and partners across the year in a series of exciting initiatives to celebrate Meridian’s 60 years.

Book

To commemorate its 60^th anniversary, Meridian International Center is publishing (February 2020) an elegant coffee table book to showcase the stunning architecture of Meridian House and White-Meyer House that make up the Center’s campus, and tell the story of how the homes and the Center came to be. The forthcoming book, titled Grounds of Diplomacy: A History, A Place, A Mission, will serve as a tribute to Meridian International Center’s historic campus in Washington and its thread in history as a hub for diplomacy, global leadership and international exchange.

Starting with the official naming of the Meridian Hill neighborhood along the proposed Washington meridian line, the book chronicles the area’s transformation into the ‘diplomatic quarter of Washington’ with the development of several embassy mansions in the early 20^th century. The book then details the construction of the two residential jewels on Crescent Place, designed by renowned architect John Russell Pope and home to two accomplished American diplomats, the influential Eugene Meyer family, and later, Meridian International Center.

As the only publication to memorialize this history through over a century’s worth of compelling photographs and imagery, the book celebrates Meridian’s work to advance diplomacy, global leadership and cultural exchange, while showing how this mission upholds the legacy of those who built Meridian Hill into a Washington neighborhood that remains influential in the United States’ engagement with the world.

Events

To celebrate its 60^th year, Meridian is hosting a series of events throughout the year.

February 27 – 60^th Anniversary Celebration

A commemorative reception and launch of the book and accompanying photo exhibition, Grounds of Diplomacy: A History, A Place, A Mission for our supporters. For more information, contact Rebekah Nantz at rnantz@meridian.org.

May 3 – Open House

Meridian House and White-Meyer House will open its doors to the public for an open house and garden tour. More details to follow in the coming months.

Ongoing – From discussions on foreign policy issues at intimate salon dinners to lively cultural diplomacy receptions and exhibits, Meridian’s curated events focus on cultivating relationships and impactful exchanges of ideas and culture from around the world with leaders of the diplomatic community, private sector and government.

For a full schedule of our upcoming events, click below and for further information on our programs, please contact merdevelopment@meridian.org

60th Anniversary CelebrationFebruary 27, 2020 from 6-8PMOpen HouseSunday, May 3, 2020

Donate

Support Diplomacy. Support Meridian.

Your support for Meridian’s 60^th Anniversary Campaign expands our diplomatic programs and helps preserve our historic campus so we can continue to welcome thousands of global leaders to the United States every year and build bridges between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

All donors at the $250 level and above will receive a first-edition copy of Grounds of Diplomacy: A History, A Place, A Mission.