(Photo by Eloísa Ramírez Vaquero)

The Old Stone House, a pre-Revolutionary War structure that sits amid the bustling shops of M Street in Georgetown, is set to close for a little bit more than a year.

The oldest structure in the District of Columbia still on its original foundation, the historic building has served as a small museum since the middle of the 20th century. Officials with the National Park Service will close its doors at the end of the month to install a new fire-suppression system, stabilize the foundation, fix the exterior stonework, and upgrade the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems.

The structure was built in 1765 as a residence and shop for a cabinet maker, before going on to serve as the home base for a variety of artisans. By 1953, though, it was being used as a used car dealership. The federal government stepped in and purchased the place, removing the modern additions that had been tacked on over the years and converting the parking lot into a garden.

But the building was only saved through a quirk of poorly remembered history, according to the National Park Service. The Old Stone House was believed to be the location of Suter’s Inn, where George Washington and Pierre L’Enfant stayed when they were surveying the new capital, hence the preservation efforts. In fact, the inn was located a few blocks away (the confusion stemmed from the fact that the owner and the clockmaker had the same name).

Officials have already started reducing hours of operation to get ready for the repairs, but there’s still a few days to visit and learn more.

The Old Stone House’s reduced hours are 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. A ranger will be on site during those hours to share the house’s history. The building will close on October 30, and is expected to re-open in December of 2018.