Washington Monument Grounds Historic District Nomination
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NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property historic name Washington Monument and Grounds Historic District (Additional Documentation, 2016) other names/site number 2. Location street & number 14th Street NW between Constitution and Independence Avenues not for publication [Washington Monument, National Mall and Memorial Parks] city or town Washington vicinity state DC code DC county code 001 zip code 20004 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: X national statewide X local Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) _________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Washington Monument and Grounds Historic District District of Columbia Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing private building(s) 2 4 buildings public - Local X district 3 5 sites public - State site 8 6 structures X public - Federal structure 9 3 objects object 22 18 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register N/A 7 (2 buildings, 1 site, 3 structures, 1 object) 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Recreation and Culture/monument/marker Recreation and Culture/monument/marker Landscape/park Landscape/park Recreation and Culture/outdoor recreation Recreation and Culture/outdoor recreation 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Washington Monument and Grounds Historic District District of Columbia Name of Property County and State 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Mid-19th Century/Exotic Revival (Egyptian Revival) foundation: gneiss, concrete walls: marble, gneiss, granite roof: marble other: iron, aluminum Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance of the property. Explain contributing and noncontributing resources if necessary. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, setting, size, and significant features.) Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Summary Paragraphs ................................................................................................................................... 4 Description of Resources .............................................................................................................................. 6 The Washington Monument ............................................................................................................. 6 The Washington Monument Grounds Cultural Landscape .............................................................. 8 Buildings .............................................................................................................................. 9 Structures .......................................................................................................................... 11 Sites .................................................................................................................................. 12 Objects .............................................................................................................................. 13 Archeological Sites ......................................................................................................................... 14 Views .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Future Construction ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Table of Contributing and Noncontributing Features .................................................................................. 16 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Washington Monument and Grounds Historic District District of Columbia Name of Property County and State Introduction The landmark status of the Washington Monument and Grounds was recognized by the District of Columbia on November 8, 1964, and the monument was administratively listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. National Register documentation of the property, including the grounds and ancillary structures on the site, was accepted on May 19, 1981 (NRIS no. 66000035). Since that time, the monument has undergone renovation and restoration, while two other buildings-- the Monument Lodge and the Survey Lodge/Boiler House—have been altered and repaired. The grounds themselves have undergone alterations of greater and lesser impact. In addition, significant historical studies of the buildings, structures, landscape, and archeological features have been undertaken. In 2004, the National Park Service (NPS) completed historic structures reports for the monument, the Monument Lodge, and the Survey Lodge/Boiler House that documented the history and character-defining features of these buildings. In 2015, NPS completed a cultural landscape report (CLR) on the Washington Monument Grounds, which identified cultural landscape features that were not adequately documented in the original nomination. The CLR was based on a 2009 cultural landscape inventory (CLI) that included a consensus determination of eligibility from the District of Columbia State Historic Preservation Office. This amended nomination incorporates information from the recent studies of the monument and grounds, identifies contributing and noncontributing features (see table, p. 24) and brings documentation to current National Register standards. It changes the property’s National Register category from “structure” to “historic district” in order to recognize the wealth of contributing resources associated with the monument. The nomination expands on the discussion of the monument’s significance, reevaluating National Register criteria and criteria considerations, areas of significance, and periods of significance.1 Text and information from the 1981 nomination is included in the current nomination where appropriate. Summary Paragraphs The Washington Monument and Grounds Historic District is located approximately in the center of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The site, which comprises U.S. Reservation no. 2, is bounded by Constitution Avenue on the north, 14th Street, Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th Street), and Independence Avenue on the east, the Tidal Basin on the south, and 17th Street on the west. It lies in both the northwest and southwest quadrants of the District of Columbia.2 Constructed in two building campaigns between 1848 and 1884, the monument stands 555 feet 5 1/8 inches tall, the shaft rising 500 feet while the remainder constitutes the capping pyramidion.3 The shaft tapers from a base width of 55 feet 1 ½ inches to a width of 34 feet 5 ½ inches at the 500-foot level. The walls of the monument range