If you’ve ever been inside Twin Oaks estate, that massive mansion in Cleveland Park on Woodley Avenue NW between Wisconsin and Connecticut avenues, you are in rare company: it’s the largest privately owned estate in D.C. that doesn’t house the president, and it’s only open to the public for special events. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) runs Twin Oaks now, using it to host Taiwanese diplomatic and cultural events. This year, TECRO is commemorating the 120th anniversary of Twin Oaks. DCist had the chance to visit Twin Oaks last Friday for the celebration and speak with Taiwanese Ambassador Jason Yuan about his experiences in D.C., Taiwan-China-U.S. relations, and Taiwan’s connection with National Geographic.

In 1888, Gardiner Green Hubbard, first president of the National Geographic Society, purchased the estate’s 18 acres for $30,000. He designed and built the house in early Colonial Georgian Revival style — today, it is the only example of that architectural style in D.C.

As part of the anniversary events, the NGS is celebrating Taiwan to the World, a 2004 partnership between National Geographic Channels International and Taiwan aimed at fostering Taiwanese filmmaking and broadcasting while creating and promoting documentary pieces about Taiwan.