Leiter had made his fortune in real estate ventures after cofounding what would later become the Marshall Field & Company department store chain.

They spent the first decade in the city renting another large Dupont Circle house, the James G. Blaine Mansion, before moving into their finished home in 1893.

Following Leiter's death in 1904, his wife continued occupying the house for several years, hosting the weddings of their other daughters, including Margaret to Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk.

During World War II the US government rented the house as office space for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

In 1881 Leiter sold his stake in the department store business to Field for $6 million and focused on his real estate ventures.

The Leiters rented the large home of politician James G. Blaine which was located in the fashionable residential area of Dupont Circle.

[3] The bedroom for one of the Leiter daughters was described as being Louis XIV style, featuring eight French paintings, carved woodwork, a white marble ceiling, and an elaborate fireplace.

[2][6] After their house was completed, Mary Leiter wasted no time in her attempt to enter local society, a venture her husband did not care about though he nevertheless supported his wife's endeavors.

Her parties proved to be popular among locals and these events were often full of surprises, such as when she had a large ribbon hung in the ballroom that separated what she described as the social elites from the others.

One news report said "[Mary] deliberately submitted the question of her superior popularity to a crucial test such as a society leader rarely invites and the result was entirely satisfactory.

[2][10] The Leiters continued hosting social gatherings at their home, cementing their status as Washington elites, with receptions attended by Treasury Secretary Lyman J. Gage, Secretary of War Elihu Root, Supreme Court Chief Justice Melville Fuller, Speaker of the House David B. Henderson, and dozens of other politicians and government officials.

[1][2] Later that year Nancy married British military officer Colin Campbell, whom she had met while visiting her older sister in India, at a wedding that took place inside the Leiter House.

Because the family was still in mourning, the event was small and only attended by less than a dozen people, one of which was Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk, the fiancé of the youngest Leiter daughter, Margaret, also known as Daisy.

[3][15] Upon her death, members of society not only from Washington, D.C., but also Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, wondered who would take her place as leader of the "smart set.

[3] In 1917 during World War I the couple lent the house to representatives of the Italian government, including Prince Ferdinando, who were escorted from Union Station to Dupont Circle by two cavalry troops.

[17] Juliette continued the tradition of holding elaborate social gatherings at the house, hosting events attended by diplomats, politicians, and other members of society.

[19] To avoid running out of alcoholic beverages for these events during Prohibition, Joseph had $300,000 worth of liquors and wines stocked in the house cellar.

In his will Joseph stated: "I request that Thomas permit my wife, Juliette, during her life to use the house at Dupont Circle, Washington, for herself and as a common home for the children."

[23][24] In 1941 Juliette chose to make her permanent home at Beverly, Massachusetts, leaving the Dupont Circle house vacant, which a local news report lamented: "For Washington society the breaking up of the Leiter menage means more than just a change of residence for the family.

"[25] After Juliette died in 1942, the house was rented by the US government during World War II as office space for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

[3][26] Thomas sold the house in 1944 for $190,000 to architect and real estate developer Alvin C. Aubinoe, who announced plans to demolish the building and replace it with a hotel.

[28] Salvageable building materials were removed and sold before the Arrow Wrecking Company demolished the house and afterwards people went through the wreckage, hoping to find valuables that had been forgotten.