I 1 I I • I I I ' •• I I • • • • • •

The Federal City Jefferson's plan for the federal city. The plan did not see a city as much as a small town. One in which the nationl capitol would be town layed out in the typical Jefferson Grid Iron Plan.

The Federal City public offices of the Pierre L'Enfant was born in Goverment. All of this was to France into a family of be done by December 1800 at artists, his father was a which time the goverment would member of the Royal Academy of transfer to it's new location. Painting and Sculpture, a Until that time, the act honor reserved for artist of specified that the capital note. When L'Enfant was a would be located in young man he 1 i ved in Philadelphia. (4) Versailles and there is little doubt he became very familiar The President apparently felt with the gardens and layout of an obligation to make at least the chateau. From Versailles a show of inspection along the with it's combination of grid Potomac, there seems to little and diagonal streets and its doubt, however, that the exact formal open spaces both urban site for the capital would be and landscaped, L'Enfant may chosen near Georgetown, well have acquired early in Maryland. Washington was his life the design vocabulary familiar with the location and which he used in the plan of perfered it over all other Washington. In 1771 L'Enfant because of it's location near entered the Royal Academy of Mount Vernon, only a few miles Painting and Sculpture in away. Paris. During this time, he studied the plan of Paris in On January 22, 1791 President great delail as well as other Washington anounced to the great cities of Europe. (6) public the location of the new L'Enfant joined a number of capitol. In early March, his countrymen in volunteering Washington appointed Major to fight in the American Pierre Charles L'Enfant to Revolution. In April 1777 he prepare an accurate survey of arrived in the colonies as a the proposed site. At this lieutenant. Soon after the war time there was no mentions of Congress promoted him to a the actual design of the city. Major in the Corps of It is felt, however, that Engineers. The title given is Washington did have L'Enfant misleading because L'Enfant in mind for the job. (5) was not involved in._

The Federal City engineering at all. He was a great deal smaller than the known for his drawing of final city. (8) L'Enfant may generals and leaders of the have at first been engaged American Revolution. (7) only to survey the area and find sites for the chief public buildings, he could not confine himself so narrowly. It seems that he convinced the President the plan for the city should include the entire district or a least a very While L'Enfant was surveying large part of it. In the Potomac site, Washington L'Enfant's mind a plan for and Jefferson had taken an such a city was being formed active role in the planning of into a great composition. the new city. At this time both of these men envisioned using only a small part of the 100 square miles designated for the city. Thomas Jefferson, an architect in his own right, proposed a city plan that was very simular to that of Philadelphia. The city appears as a checkerboard of square blocks, 11 blocks east and west and 3 blocks deep. The plan states that each block was to be 600 feet square and laid off in lots 60 feet wide. The space normally occupied by three blocks would be used for the President's house and gardens, with an equal area set aside for the Capitol. The total area amounted to about 2,000 acres,

The Federal City As he began the task of designing the new city, L'Enfant felt the need to examine the plans of certain European cities. He asked Jefferson to send him the plans of such cities as

Frankfurt, Paris, Stasbourg, ,~ .. .~..,.,.....,~,.,.. ,',! r and Orleans. Jefferson was a "'""'~.-.~·- ... /.J-.•~1 .... , .• great collector of city plans and sent the request at once. L'Enfant worked with great speed. Within three weeks he wrote of "Quays, bridges, magnificent public walks, and other projects ... " (9) On June 21, 1791 L' Enfant took to Mount Vernon a prepared plan for the city. To see the plan is to see the new government as conceived by the men who ran it. Like overlapping spider webs, street patterns mesh together several separate focal points. This was corresponding to the three brances of the new government executive, legislative, and judicial the plan's three main focal centers were separated, but linked by great avenues. The area's highest elevation, Jenkins' Hill was reserved for Congress and the Capitol. The executive department, a mile and a half to the northwest, was to be

The Federal City centerred on the President's park and well improved field, House, a "palace" L'Enfant being a part of the walk from called it. The third branch, the President's house of about the judicial, was to be placed 1800 feet in breadth and 3/4 somewhere between the of a mile in lenght." (ll) 'I'he President's Palace and the original drawing indicated Capitol, away from the major building bordering the avenues, unconnected and "field," now the Washington presumably uninfluenced by Mall. These sites, according either of the other branches to the designer, were to be of government. (10) the location for such things as Ministeries and Embassys. (12)

After Washington approved the plan, it was presented to Congress along with a The street which linked the memorandum for implementation. city together were to be 130 At the end of this memorandum feet wide while the remaining L'Enfant told of his landscape streets were to be 90 and 110 image: "the whole will acquire feet wide. For the center of new sweetness being laid over this composition L'Enfant the green of a field well provided a major link between level and made brilliant by the Capitol and the the shade of a few trees President's House. He artfully planted." (13) described this as a "Grand Landscaping of the city was Avenue, 400 feet in breadth, it's unifying factor. This and about a mile and a half in worked well with the way length, bordered with gardens, L'Enfant anticipated the ending in a slope from the growth of Washington. He houses on each side. This planned for strategic urban Avenue leads to the Monument development to be generated at A, and connects the Congress the same time from a number of Garden with the President's points marked by major

The Federal City -buildings and notal points The growth that was expected within the city. As growth of was far in the future when the Washington occured these Congress made the move from points would join together to Philadelphia to Washington. form the city we know today. Access to the capital was still limited and difficult. When the government made the move it was a symbolic gester only. After congress met for a L'Enfant was expected to work total of 1 hour everyone under the general direction of packed and went to Baltimore. three commissioners appointed Washington was described a to oversee the building of the neither town nor village, a federal city. L'Enfant city in which one congressman considered the work to be his said, "so many are willing to personal and exclusive come to and all so anxious to responsibility, however, and leave." (15) Why after 10 repeatedly disregarded advice years was the city so and instruction given him by incomplete? The reasons do not the commissioners. In one change ... money. incident, L'Enfant ordered a new house of one of the commissioner to be torn down because it was a few feet overr the line he had plotted President Washington and the to mark out New Jersey Avenue. commissioners of the federal Because of this and many city counted upon land similar incidents, the speculation to help finance commissioners insisted to construction. Expecting the President Washington that capital to attract business L'Enfant had to go, unless he and a great population of would subordinate himself to people, the commissioner them. He refused. In February offered lots at public 1792, Washington dismissed auction. The commissioners him. (14) Although L'Enfant even tryed to change the names was gone the plan of the city of area landmarks to hid the wus to live on. area's true nature Goose

The Federal City Creek became the Tiber and -Jefferson found "simple,- Jenkins• Hill became noble, beautiful, excellently Capitoline Hill nothing distributed, and moderate in helped. Only 35 lots were sold size." ( 17) This is high at the first auction. A second praise coming from someone who and a third auction was no summited his own design for more successful; by 1801 less the President's House under than one-tenth of the lots the name of XYZ. were sold. (16) Only when Congress and the state of Maryland came to the rescue with money was work able to continue.

Design of the Capitol Building and the President's House went more smootly. Plans for both of these structures where conceved by a nation wide competition, a new concept at that time. The results ranged from the absurd to the classical. An Irish archi teet living in South Carolina, James Hoban, won the first competition for the President • s house with his design for a Palladian-style mansion. Dr. William Thornton, a physician and amateur architect, entered the Capitol competition late, but won easily with a plan Thomas

The Federal City Examples of some of the buildings proposed for the National 'Capitol. These and others were the result of the national competition helt to 'I~ ~. I ~ '·'' ~ find a design of the Capital I I I I I Building. -~----~· . .ff' .. ~1rrr ·-r I I, .1.1 .. 1. I; ' I flfJ!il ··•••• ~~~rr I J'l• '·. .. f i llllllri I ~ I . i .I .I .I .i . II 9 t :i I llr

The Federal City , f

1800 ° 1861

The Federal City In 1801 Congress made the Improvements in the city came final move to Washington D.C .. slowly. During the Jefferson Upon the offical arrival the administration rows of poplars government one congressman along Pennsylvania Avenue, describP.d the fedreal city in served to confine and direct these words: "One wing of the views along this great Capitol only had beP.n erected, diagonal boulevard connecting whicn, with the President's the Capitol with the house, a mile distant from it, Presidents home. Also during both constructed with white this time the Washington sandstone, were shining Canal, which L 'Enfant's plan objects in dismal contrast showed as replacing Tiber with the scene around them. Creek and running along the Instead of recognizing the north edge of the Mall, avenues and streets portrCiyed received early attention. on the plan of the city, not Although the canal was one was visible, unless we supposed to bring commercial except a road with two prosperity to the city, its buildings on each side of it, value for shipping, turned out called New Jersey avenue. The to be largely an illusion, and Pennsylvania Avenue was its stagnant watersserved then nearly the whole. chiefly as a dump for trash distancea deep morass, covered' and garbage. The orders that with alder bushes " ( 18) it produced stifled any Because of the primative development along its banks. conditions of the city many Thus the first major economic congressmen wanted to move the• development of Washington was seat of governemt to some more a great flop. A disaster that prosperous and developed would carry over into the next community located in the century. north. All of these efforts were fought off by men who belived in the purpose of the new capitol. The most impressive sight of the new city were the Capitol and the White House and the

The Federal City ·related buildings for the went up to move the city. Amid executive departments. By 1814 this clamor the city father the first section of the moved quickly to provide a Ca:9i tol had been joined by a temperary home for Congress covered walkway to a similar and the President. During the structure some distance to the next several years a frenze of south constructed under building took place in the Beniamin Henry Latrobe, the federal city. The first new director of buildings, construction was of course on supervision.(l9) the public buildings.

All construction came to a From 1820 to 1860, a great halt, in Washington, when war deal of progress was made in was declared on Great Britain making Washington D.C. worthy in 1812. For many months after of the nation. Through the fighting began, most of the first two decades of the action took place far from nineteenth century, the city's Washington. Then, in the late population was concentrated in summer of 1814, a squadron the low lying areas along the landed in Maryland near the Pennsylvania Avenue and in a city. The American forces were few smaller scattered brushed aside and on August locations. Water was supplied 24th they captured Washington by my private springs, but a and set fire to most of its public supply was furnished public buildings. when City Sring and others, were connected by a pipeling to provide the White House, Capitol, and the areas along Pennsylvania Avenue with a Destruction would probably water supply. have been total, except for a storm that swept the city for two days.(20) When the British left Washington they left a city in ruin. Again, a cry

The Federal City The Treasury was just one of Downing's plan has usually many building which helped been called "romantic." He transform the village into a himself called it the city. L'Enfant original "nat ura 1" s t y 1 e. Down1ng· saw planned area, framed by the Mall as a place of resort Boundary (now Florida Avenue), and recreation where the well contained the antebellum people of the city could enjoy city. Much of the land within not only nature but man's the planned area had actually "improvements" of nature. (23) not been developed, although Because the treatment of the the street scheme remained in axes was less formal than that force, at least on maps. Open proposed by either L'Enfant or fields and unplanned later planners, he is often settlements merged into the charge with having ignored the open countryside beyond importance of the axes. The Boundary Street. Still, even most informal area of his plan prior to the Civil War boom, was in the Washington Monument faint stirrings of suburban area. An area of great development within the contraversy during this time. District of Columbia could be found. (23)

Before the Civil War there was This adequate water supply ... one great effort to improve one of the first among the city. This came in 1850 American cities brought the when President Fillmore city up to modern standards. retained Andrew Jackson In Washington's case, the Downing, a prominent landscape supply also had an important gardener from New York, to effect on the location of design the White House grounds residential neighborhoods. and the land stretching Since the water reached westwards from the Capitol. Gorgetown and the northwest

The Federal City quadrant first, before being­ where to place the proposed piped to the rest of the city, Treasury Building said 'but those northwest sections were the damn thing in Pennsylvania more desirable as residential Avenue ( 22) The areas, while neighborhoods Treasury's siting, followed a east of the Capitol had no pattern of a lack of water. So as the city grew the enforcement of any over-all rich clustered in the western plan for the public spaces, areas having the water while and especially for sites and the poor stayed in the eastern designs of public buildig. part. This distrubution of the rich and poor brought on by a simple thing like water still holds true today. (21) The desire to raise a monument ot President George Washington brought many conflicting proposals, ranging from simple Robert Mills, Latrobe's to complex. In the L'Enfant assistance, had the greatest plan a large statue of effect on the building within Washington on horseback was to the district during this time. be located at the intersection His first and perhaps the of the vista rumming due south greatest example of his work from the White House and that was the Treasury Building. The rumming due west from the Treasury, located next to the Capitol at the end of his White House, blocked out the Grand Avenue, now the Mall. view form the Capitol to the (24) Congress did nothing President's House. This specific about erecting a "spoliation" of a carefully monument to Washington, so a designed terminus to the group of private citizens city's major deagonal avenue organized a competition for was supposedly instigated by its design in 1833. Robert President Andrew Jackson. As Mills won the competition with the leg ion goes, President a design for a six-hundred Jackson was having an argument foot obelisk,surrounded at its with Congress and when asked base by a circular colannade.

The Federal City Construction on the monument began in 1848. Unfortunately, L'Enfant's proposed site proved to be swanpy and unstable. Because of this and to the regret of later planners, the Mills designed monument was begun on a hill 120 south and 360 feet east of the true intersection. By 1856, the private funds donated for the construction ran out, and the halfcompleted monument stood neglected for twenty years. ( 25) 'rhe change in coloration of the stone is still viible, marking where the early construction had stopped.

The Federal City The first native American architect to oversee construction of the Capitol was Charles Bulfinch. Bulfinch modified the orignal design of the central section, including the Rotunda and dome.

The Federal City tlf P.J!.Jil~ J801'l i

1 ~E PUBLIC CROUNDS

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The "Romatic" plan for the mall proposed by Andrew Jackson Downing, in 1850.

The Federal City A view of the Washington Monument in 1859. For almost 50 years the people of Washington had this incompleted view of the monument.

The Federal City 'I , , r ' r r , ' f ,

1861 o19QQ'

The Federal City Improvements to the city and torts were built on th~ hills the federal buildings came to around Washington. Barracks, a virtual halt during the camps, provisions, equipment, Civil War. This war made the supplies and people were seen final transformation of everywhere. The spread of the Washington from a thriving population ended the "walking village into a bustling city. city" forever. In 1862, the In serving as a receiving first streetcar railroad was depot for recruits, the city chartered: soon it would be had a great rise in throughout the city. Allowing population, one which flooded for the residential areas to it hotels and rooming houses. be significantly separated Temporary camp structures were from work thus bringing the erected in the city and the suburbs to Washington.(26) surrounding area. Buildings and grounds were given a new function: the basement of the Caitol served as a bakery, and cattle were slaughtered on the grounds of the Washington The wartime boon also changed Monument. Other buildings were the business districts. turned into hospi~als and Pennsylvania Avenue as the mi 1 i tary headquarters. Beyond primary commercial street providing accommodations for ended and moved to F street. the military and the growing Pennsylvania Avenue was now a ranks of civil servants, the place that the military loved. city became a symbol of the Populated by prostitutes, nation's unity, especially in gamblers and a criminal the completion of the extended element this area islated Capitol and its huge dome. itself socially from the rest of the city. The triangle, known as Murder Bay, was for years an eyesore to the public and it was not until the At the outbreak of the war, 1930's did this popular area the city was threatened by end. Overall the capital Confederate forces. A chain of worked well during the war.

The Federal City A tiered dome rises atop the Capitol during the Civil War years. Lincoln called construction "a sign we intend the Union shall go on."

The Federal City Work continued on the Capitol After the Civil War Congress dome. President Lincoln stated faced the new problems of its on his first address to the commitment to Washington as nation, "If people see the the nation's capital. The city Capitol going on it is a sign had served the government well we intend the Union shall go as a military headquarters and on." (27) On December 2, 1863, encampement, but the new the dome was finished and growth brought many problems Thomas Crawford's Statue of to postbellum Washington. Freedom was placed on the top. Things such as flooding from the Potomac and the Washington Canal st i 11 plaged the city. The Mall was know more than a patchquilt park setting for public building, building which the public did not go It would be 16 more months because of it location next to before the war ended and the the open sewer of the canal. union restored. At the cost of more than 600,000 lives the Union was preserved and Washington was once more the capital of all the United States. Thounands of former slaves moved into the city who Before the Civil War, public felt that Washington was the and private interest had taken safest place to be. The last to higher ground. This process death of the Civil War would was intensified in the year be the greatest casualty the · following the war. In the nation would know. This was thiry five years following the the death of President Civil War, the lowland were Lincoln. For the country, the made 1 i vable. The city canal end of the war meant the loss was filled in. Streets were of a great national leader. paved. The Potomac flats were For Washington, it marked the reclaimed as an integral ~-eg inning of an era of peace element in flood proofing the and prosperity. city. (28)

The Federal City During the 1880's Pensylvania Avenue was not an exhibit of cultural institutions that L • Enfant planned. But a busy commercial street.

The Federal City In shaping the city, four system of open spaces were groups of men were removed; these were restored influential: 1) the Board of to their original prupose as Public Works set up under the parks. brief territorial form of governemt; 2)the Army Corps of Engineers, which in 1867 was entrusted with the physical development; 3)designer, often Shepherd was removed form the of national recognition, Public Works when he was commissioned by the goverment charged with taking money from for different projects in the the city's funds. Congress had city; 4) the local designers, approved 10 million dolars for developers, and financiers who the irnprovemnets in truth, payed for the new buildings four times that amount was and neighborhoods. spent. ( 30) When Congress discoved this they at once called for an investigation of Shepherd, before any positive evedence could be found Shepard left for Mexico. The Alexander:- Shephecd, member of Board of Public Works was the short 1 i ved Board of disbanded in 1874. Public Works, was the most celebcated figure in the imporvements of the city. (29) Washington born and deeply committed to the city, Shepherd led a wock focce Public works were also which among other:- things, undertaken by the Cocps of covered the city canal Engineers. The Corp's work on converting it into a street. public buildings and gounds in Sewecs were laid and streetu the city of Washington keep to graded, paved, and planted the plans pcoposed by with tcees. Markets that had L'Enfant, especially 1n the developed contrary to the carving of the cemaining intentions of L'Enfant's streets and neighbochood parks

The Federal City View of the area known as Murders Bay. A sore spot to the society of Washington but to the men who fought in the Civil War a place of "Rest."

The Federal City within the framework of that Navy Building (now the original plan. The corps also Executive Office Building) to performed the great task of stand to the west of the White reclaiming the Potomac flats. House. (31) This building In the process was cr:eated a along with the Librar:y of vast piece of land joining the Congr:ess1 the Post Office/ and mall1 the ar:ea now knows as the National Museum made East and West Potomac Par:k and changes upon the city and set the Tidal Basin. the stage for: Washington as we know it.

After: the war:1 the gover:nment 'rhe impr:ovements made by all not only r:etained its of these gr:oups 1 know matter pr:opert i es but later: expanded how benfinital to the city1 them. Mor:e visibly/ a national appeared piecemeal/ unr:elated cemetery was created with to a compr:ehensive scheme. Ar:lington House1 boy hood hom: Thus, by the end of the of Rober:t E. Lee. Above all1 centur:y1 the city was ripe for: the most highly visible a sweeping together of past accomplishment was the impr:ovements along with many commanding featur:e of the of the individual suggestions Washington skyline/ the 555 initiated by the ter:r:itor:ial foot high Washington Monument/ government's Boar:d of Public the obelisk which had r:emained Wor:ks and the Corps. The idea unfinished since the mid of bringing all of these thing 1850's/ and was br:ought to together was the work of one completion by the Army Cor:ps man Colonel Theodore Bingham. of Engineers in 1885. The Bingham urged Congress to wor:ks of other eng ineer:s and improve existing park lands 1 ar:chitects filled in the both as a benefit to city landscape created by the residents and as an engineers. Alfr:ed Mullett/ inspirational model to park supervising ar:chitect of the systems in other American Tr:easur:y 1 was commissioned to cities. Resurrecting L'Enfant design the new State/ War: and name1 Bingham created an

The Federal City atmo.sphet.-e in whic.~l congress and the public became excited the city and it's upcoming Centennial.

The Federal City New interest in the planning of Washington occured as the Centennial of the city apfYCOdChed.

- ______. The Federal City 1900 ° 1941

The Federal City In 1900, under the leadership ceremonial section of the city of Sen a tor James McMillan, a as well as public buildings, group of urban designers were diriving a concept of making assembled under the name of the buildings and parks into the 11 Senate Park Commission, 11 one. The plan also had a and given a directive Which regional perspective, from included the designation of Mount Vernon to the Great sites for public buildings and Falls on the Potomac, a break the design of a cornprehens i ve through from the nineteenth parks program. Members century preoccupation with the included architects Daniel city itself. Burnham and Charles McKim, noted for their work on the The land covered by the Chicago World's Columbian McMillan Plan (as it is now Exposition, as well as called) included all of the landscape archi teet Fredick additions and extensions Olmsted Jr. and sculptor provided by reclamation of the Augustus Saint-Gaudens. (32) flats. The addition of land to the west of the Washington Monument was dedicated to a memorial to President Lincoln, the two memorials linked by a reflecting pool. The mile long axis of the Mall now extended from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, and In the work of the commission, across the proposed Arlington its members looked to Memorial Bridge, ending up in Atnerica's past, to Washington, the Virginia hills at Jefferson, and L'Enfant, for Arlington National Cematery. ins pi rat ion. They visited the To the nort of the reflection colonial capitals of Annapolis pool, the commission suggested and Williansburg. They also a wood, simialr to those in traveled to Europe's old Europe. The new lands created cities. The final plan, to the south of the Mall were published in 1902, concerned to be recreational spaces, itself with parks in the with another spot apropriate_

The Federal City for a rnernor ial at the end of The response of Congress was the White House axis, one not innediate. In fact the deticated to the founding obstacles, and there were fathers of the United States. many, almost made the plan fail before it started. The greatest of these obstacles was the Pennsylvania Railroad. The railroad had during the 1850 1 s built a train station on the mall near the Capitol. The Mall was reestablished in Alexander Cassatt, president its forrnali ty, much different of Pennsylvania Railroad, from the rornatic ideas of the moved his station after a mid 1880 • s. Elms were to be great deal of pressure from planted along the Mall's members of the Senate Park edges, defining the axis. The Commission and when Congress Washington Monument, because approved the plans for a new of its location off axis, was station north of the Capitol. to be surrounded by a sunken garden with a great round round poll constructed to realign the sturcture along the true axis. New executive office buildings were to be grouped around Lafayette Square facing the White House. The area south of Pennsylvania As the years passed, more and Avenue, rnuders, bay, was viewed more of the McMillian Plan as a possibe location for carne into being. World War I District government buildings. brought a pause int the work (33) The McMillan Plan made of civic improvement. the many mentions of the L' Enfant greatest effect this war had plan: in fact it was not at on the city was the all sirnular. The frequent cornstruction of temporary references to L'Enfant were office builings and housing made more in the spirit of for goverrnent workers. Areas historical justification for between the Capitol and Union Congress and the public. Station became filled with

The Federal City The McMillan Commission Plan for the Mall. Showing the new development in the reclaimed flats on the Potomac River.

The Federal City View of the Washington Monument and Monument Gardens.

The Federal City Rendering of the McMillan Commission Plan for the Lincoln Memorial.

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Proposed Memorial Building Group, now the location of the Jefferson Memorial.

The Federal City Scale Models of Washington Prepared ofr the Commission, showing existing conditions and Proposals.

The Federal City these buildings. Also the area The expanding city was filling around the reflecting pool the District's boundaries and containted a great many of spilling over. The city had these "temporary" buildings developed along street car and some of which were not railroad lines radiating out distroyed until the 1970's. from the ceremonial core of More than any thing ese the the city into the rest of the war swelled the city's District, Maryland and population to permanently Virginia, and had produced higher levels, bring on all chains of commuting towns that the problems of growth and sprouted around railroad expansion. stations and depots. As the parallel highway system In the early 1920's, in spite developed, business districts of these many difficulties, then formed along these the work on the capital strips. (34) When the building resumed. During the automabile came it drastically following decades, major altered the configuration of recommendations of of the the city. By 1925, this mode McMillan Connission would be of transportation seemed to be fulfilled: the Lincoln accepted by the nation. Mo Memorial, the Memorial Bridge longer didresidential were completed, along with settlementsneed to be near the several building at Lafayette streetcar or railroad station. Square. Notable anomg these Residential areas could be structures are the Pan diffused, built anywhere a American Union Building, road let, a great observation Constitution Hall, and the on my part! Zoning and Department of Agriculture planning agencies had already Building. taken root in the city. Public planning in Washington could be traced back to the 1890 street highway plan, the 1899 curb on heights of buildings, and the 1920 zoning of land use. This zoning system was amoung the first in the United

The Federal City View from the top of the Washington Monument toward the Lincoln Memorial, showing the "Temporary" federal office buildings.

The Federal City ,::,car.es ana oecause o:r: 1. t. t.he· The Federal Triangle was scale of Washington has developed as a group of remained very low creating a buildings complet in itself, uni fori ty unique for American but was hardly an example of Cities. good planning. The designers may have created a symbol of power but they forgot about the practical details of how people who worked in these monsters got to work, where they had lunch, or where they parked their cars. The Federal Triangle also did a great job of blocking the Mall from the In 1924, Congress created the rest of the city, north of National Capital Park and Pennsylvania Avenue. Planning CommissionCommission in order to implement the park provisions as suggested by the McMillan Commission. This commission was to oversee that any new construction with in the city adhear to the guide The con~~ruction of the lines established. One of the Federal Triangle was only one first jobs of this commission project that came into it's was to oversee the own during the depression era. construction of the Federal The advent of the New Deal Triangle. In this large transformed Washington and seventy acre tract of land, accelerated the city's growth. monumental structures of Suburbanization became the eclectic design were to be greatest form of growth, most constructed during the next of which occured in the decade. (35) It is not a Virginia counties after secret that these buildings construction of Key Bridge and were to be a symbol of the Memorial Bridge. This suburban power of the National development was spurred on by Government. new federal programs.

The Federal City The Federal Triangle, designed as a symbol of Power for the United States.

The Federal City The New Deal initiated public The New Deal also saw the programs aimed at stimulating building of the Pentagon and mplyment by providing funds National Airport. In the late for public works projects, 1930's the War Department many of them overdue. The conceived of a single tendency to build what had structure to contain all of already planned and ready to its activities. The location go. Administrators of new of such a structure caused agencies looked to Washington quite a fight between the D.C. as a case study of what National Capitol Planning could be accomplished Commission and the War nationwide. Funds were Department. This department provided through agencies like wanted to located this the Works Progress building, know as the Administration, the Public Pentagon, on the Virginia side Roads Administration, and the of the Potomac River. The Public Works Administration. Nation Capitol Planning (36) In September 1933, Commission had alocated this 600,000 dollars was alloted to area for a large park adjacent for the Mall Development Plan. to the River. After a long The plan included the Mall fight the War Department ' won proper and Union Square, the battle. The construction providing for "roadway took only 18 months, but the construction, general grading, same problems that happened at landscaping, tree planting, the Federal Triangle showed and water supply system" ( 37) themselves again. '!'he main The Mall development inspired problem was traffic, moving new plans and studies for that many people to and from other urban areas of the city. one location placed a strain of the existing highway system. Many millions of dollars to correct this one disission. When the National Airport was built, at the request of the army, a few years later, it was almost a repeat of same story.

The Federal City 'l'he highway leading from the Pen tag on. A cause of many problems within the district.

The Federal City f r r

1941 ° 1985

The Federal City Several months before Pearl supply weca materials foe Harbor, Washington had already automobiles. One far: sighted begun to draw up its battle developer saw the need for lines. Tempos began to rise good housi~g within walking again a repeat performance of distance of most government World War I. Like the Civil office buildings. The War and World War I, World War development built was the I I brought massive changes to 1ficst of the redevelopment the city. Open spaces in the plans for the nation capitol. ;~·Planning" became the wocd for monumental core and in many I outlying areas were covered by the next three decades. temporary structures. Although some of the outlying building the land did not always return ot its former conditions. The city during the Civil War and In 1952 the gceatest urban World War I had spilled into plan to date was pcoposed by the open land that lay within the National Capitol Planning the District • s boundaries and Commission. This plan not only wer defined by coutes of looked at the city but also to public transpoctation, the the succounding countcyside. city of the l940 1 s spcead foe All of these plans, however: into the surrounding counties. could not stop the mass Lasting moce than twice as migcation of people to the long as Wocld Wac I, World Wac suburbs. Ducing the 1950 1 s and II caused pecmanent 60's Washington saw the development in the city. The population of its city change. war time population endured As typical of most amecican after the second war, cities the middle class moved especially in terms of and was replaced by the poor:. govecnment employees. Despite This change in population the capid construction of new bcought about new building and cesidential units neighbochoods that changed in the Washington region, the focevec the lay out of the construction was limited by city. To cope with these new shortages of Constcuction changes Plans and Moce Plans materials. Also in short were proposed. Most of these

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Newly constructed single family homes built in the suburbs in 1950.

The Federal City Plan for central Washington and the East Mall: 1946.

The Federal City One of the many proposels for of the southwest part of Washington D.C.

The Federal City delt with the redevelopment of suburbs. During the 1950's and residential neighborhods. The 60's Washington saw the mall area was largely ingored population of its city change. until 1962 when President As typical of most american Kennedy established the cities the middle class moved President's Council on and was replaced by the poor. Pennsylvania Avenue the This change in population purpose was to plan for the brought about new resurrection of the avenue as neighborhoods that changed worthy of capital city and its forever the lay out of the ceremonial functions. The plan city. To cope with these new conceved by SOM proposed large changes Plans and More Plans bulk office buildings with were proposed. Most of these uniform hights along delt with the redevelopment of Pennsylania Avenue while the residential neighborhods. The Mall would be transformed by mall area was largely ingored new landscaping, water, and until 1962 when President building along the core. While Kennedy established the for the most part this plan President's Council on was not implemated its spr it Pennsylvania Avenue the carred over to years to come purpose was to plan for the and set the standerds for resurrection of the avenue as future growth of the Avenue worthy of capital city and its and Mall areas. ceremonial functions. The plan conceved by SOM proposed large bulk office buildings with uniform hights along Pennsylania Avenue while the In 1952 the greatest urban Mall would be transformed by plan to date was proposed by new landscaping, water, and the National Capitol Planning building along the core. While Commission. This plan not only for the most part this plan looked at the city but also to was not implemated its spr it the surrounding countryside. carred over to years to come All of these plans, however and set the standerds for could not stop the mass future growth of the Avenue migration of people to the and Mall areas.

The Federal City Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation's design for the Avenue and the Mall.

The Federal City The new Washington, the freeway system is superinposed on the diagonal and grid system of L'Enfant's Plan.

The Federal City The end of the 1960's and capital of the nation, early 70's saw the city metropolitan Washington is through a very troubled time. spread ,· over nearly 5, 000 In 1968, Martin Luther King square miles. The city now was killed and in the days to includes four suburban follow parts of the city were counties and bits of other distroyed by fire. During the counties in Virgina and anti war protest a great Maryland. (38) Washington is a strain was placed on the city precious city in the world's and it growth as urban center. eyes, a horizontal city, After the trouble came to a crowded with history and halt during the middle 70's monuments, public buildings new growth occured in and architecture. It is, above Washington. For the first time all, a green city seen in the in many years movement from designed landscape of the the city to surburbs came to a river, parks, and tree lined halt and new development avenues. It is also an active started to occure in several city, millons of people have areas of the city. This growth visited and lived within its and thus new plans goes on boundries. Their business is today. with federal agencies and the more than a thousand national organization, associations, and professional societies that make their headquarters here. The millions of visitors to the city of Washin~ton are tourists from every corner of the nation and the world, drawn her because of the The modern City of Washington current events and the has emerged as the outcome of historical aspects of the nearly two centuries of nation. It is a city whose systematic city building image is filled the screens efforts. As the outstanding throughout the world. Making example of an American planned this city as known as London, city and the symbolic planned Paris, and Moscow.

The Federal City Proposed urban design concepts for the entire reagon: 1984.

The Federal City Aboveall, it is to the future that the City of Washington looks, as it has looked for two centuries. In terms of the future it is responding to new urban goals and issues, to questions of social justice, to the environment, as well as by expanding urban functions and federal needs. The city as become what it was ment to be a city worthy of a nation.

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The Federal City f f 1 f ' r '

End notes

The Federal City ( 1 ) .•• ( 8) ••• John w. Reps, Monumental Elizabeth Kite, L'Enfant and Washington, Princeton Washington, Baltimore, 1929, University Press, 1967, p.7-9 p. 43-48 ( 2) ••• Frederich Gutheim, Worthy of ( 9) ••• the Nation, Nation Capital idib. p. 50 Planning Commission Press, 1977 I P· 14-15 ( 10) ••. Washington Past and Present, The United States Capitol ( 3) ••• Historical Society, The United States Constitution Washington, 1983, p. 12. 1779, pl ( 11) ••• ( 4) ••• ibib p. 14 Frederick Gutheim, The Federal City: Plans and Realities, ( 12) .•• Smithsonian Institution Press, John w. Reps, Monumental 1981, p. 6-7 Washington, Princeton University Press, 1967. P· ( 5) ••• 14-15 We the People, The National Geographic Society, ( 13) .•. Washington, 1981, 16-17 Frederick Gutheim, The Federal City: Plans and Realities, ( 6) ••• Smithsonian Institution Press, John w. Reps, Monumental 1981, p. 10 Washington, Princeton University Press, 1967, p.9-10 ( 14) ••• Frederich Gutheim, Worthy of ( 7) ••• the Nation, Nation Capital ibib. p. 11 Planning Commisssion Press, 1977 I P· 36

The Federal City ( 15) ... ( 2 3) ••• We the People, The National ibib. p. 58 Geographic Society, Washington, 1981, p. 12 (24)

( 16 ) ... ( 24) .. . ibib. p. 14 (23) ... a John w. Reps, Monumental ( l 7 ) ••• Washington, Princeton ibib. p. 15 University Press, 1967. p. 51

( 18) ... John w. Reps, Monumental Washington, Princeton University Press, 1967, p. 29

( l 9 ) • • • We the Prople, The National Geographic Society, Washington, 1981, p. 25

( 20) ••• ibib. p. 31-32

( 21 ) ..• Frederick Gutheim, The Federal City: Plans and Realities, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981, p. 8

( 2 2) ••• Freder i ch Gut he im, Worthy of the Nation, Nation Capital Planning Commission Press, 1977, p. 47

The Federal City