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CAPITOL : UNITED STATES OF AMERICAWASHINGTON DCPrepared by : bhanu khannaLOCATION -

location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia

UNITED STATES CAPITOL WASHINGTON D.C.

GREATER WASHINGTON EXPANSION SINCE 1900

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a geographical area of 68.3 square miles (176.9km2), 61.4 square miles (159.0km2) of which is land, and the remaining 6.9 square miles (17.9km2) (10.16%) of which is water.Washington is surrounded by the states ofVirginia(on its southwest side) andMaryland(on its southeast, northeast, and northwest sides); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the south shore of the Potomac River both upstream and downstream from the District. The portion of the Potomac River that passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District's border, as the District extends to the south bank. The city contains the historic "federal city", the territory of which was formerly part of those two adjacent states before they respectively ceded it for the national capital. The land ceded from Virginia wasreturned by Congressin 1847, so what remains of the modern District was all once part of Maryland.

Downtown(The National Mall,East End,West End,Waterfront)The center of it all: The National Mall, D.C.'s main theater district, Smithsonian and non-Smithsonian museums galore, fine dining, Chinatown, the Verizon Center, the Convention Center, the central business district, the White House, West Potomac Park, the Kennedy Center, George Washington University, the beautiful Tidal Basin, and the new Nationals Park.

North Central(Dupont Circle,Shaw,Adams Morgan Columbia Heights,LeDroit Park)D.C.'s trendiest and most diverse neighborhoods and destination number one for live music and clubbing, as well as loads of restaurants, Howard University, boutique shopping, beautiful embassies, Little Ethiopia, jazz on U Street, and lots of nice hotels.West(Georgetown,Upper Northwest)The prestigious, wealthy side of town, home to the historic village of Georgetown with its energetic nightlife, colonial architecture, and fine dining; the National Zoo; the massive National Cathedral; bucolic Dumbarton Oaks; the bulk of D.C.'s high-end shopping; more Embassy Row; American University; and several nice dining strips.

East(Capitol Hill,Near Northeast,Brookland-Petworth-Takoma,Anacostia)Starting at the Capitol Building and Library of Congress, and fanning out past grandiose Union Station and the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, to the less often visited neighborhoods by Gallaudet and Catholic University, historic Anacostia, D.C.'s "Little Vatican" around the National Shrine, the huge National Arboretum, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, offbeat nightlife in the Atlas District, and a handful of other eccentric neighborhoods to explore.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA- HISTORYWashington, D.C., is a city borne of politics, by politics, and for politics. It wasn't the first nationalcapital:Baltimore,Lancaster,Annapolis,Trenton, and evenNew York Cityall tried hosting the national government. For a time, it seemed like Philadelphia would stake a claim as home to the federal government. with the tacit sanction of the Pennsylvania government, chased the lawmakers out of the city toPrinceton. That incident made clear that the nation's capital would need to be independent from the powerful state governments and that thesouthern states would refuse to accept a northern capital.

Three of the nation's founding fathers, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, agreed in 1790 to a compromise location for a new national capital on largely uninhabited land along the Potomac River in the Mid-Atlantic. The exact location was left up to George Washington, who carved a diamond-shaped federal district out of land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia, which just so happened to be near his plantation atMount Vernon. The new territory also included two existing settlements: Georgetown, on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and Alexandria, Virginia, at the district's southern tip.

FORMATION OF THE WORLD POWER

HISTORY1791 -1800

The LEnfant and Ellicott PlansAt the request of George Washington, Pierre LEnfant, a French volunteer in the Continental Army, presented a baroque city plan for the new Capital inspired by French city planning, particularly the plan of Chanteloup [Miller 2002]. The city is oriented north along 16th street and bounded by the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Boundary Street (modern-day Florida Avenue), which follows the base of the Piedmont Escarpment.Thomas Jefferson was able to persuade the Congress to grant a Southern site for the new Capital, but lost out on both his own plan for the new city as well as a design for the Capitol building submitted anonymously. Pierre Charles LEnfantAndrew Ellicot, Thackara & Vallance

Notoriously difficult to work with, LEnfant, despite Washingtons favor, was eventually dismissed from the project and the final plan for the city was based on surveys conducted by Andrew Ellicott (shown here in the same scale as LEnfants plan) with modifications made by Jefferson, which shifted and straightened Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Avenues as well as eliminating the destination quality of the reservations LEnfant had set aside for Statues, Columns, Obelisks, or any other ornaments such as the different states may choose to erect.

1860-1900This Birds-Eye drawing looking south shows the emergance of the Mall as a civic space by 1860. Andrew Jackson Downing, at the request of Millard Fillmore, produced a plan for the Mall and the parks north and south of the White House. Downings work exemplifies the natural landscape trend of the time, heavily influenced by Cambridges Mt. Auburn Cemetery and pastoral notions of the young nation. In opposition to LEnfants geometric plan for the city, Downings Mall featured serpentine paths through pastoral plantings of trees and past irregularly shaped water features. Olmstead, Sr. Plan for the Capitol Grounds

Despite Washingtons emergence as an urban center, Olmsteads plan for the Capitol Grounds to a distictively pastoral approach and was a precursor to the McMillan commission plan for the entire Federal Area.

Frederick Law Olmstead Sr., Architect of the Capitol. 1874.

Perspective and Plan for McMillan PlanThe McMillan Plan envisioned a Federal District set apart from the rest of the city based on City Beautiful premises. Emphasis was placed on unifying the Mall and claiming the area between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mall for Federal business. The Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials would form new end-points for the civic structure. The Mall as envisioned by the McMillan Commission is pretty much as it is today. The area on either side of the Mall is strictly for Federal uses and the Mall itself is home to the Smithsonian Museums and any number of monuments. The combination of the McMillan improvements, FDRs expansion of the Federal Government, and the impending War led to a rapid increase of population by 1940.

By the early 1900s, L'Enfant's vision of a grand national capital had become marred by slums and randomly placed buildings, including a railroad station on the National Mall. A plan enacted by Congress in 1901 beautified Washington's ceremonial core, re-landscaping the Capitol grounds and the National Mall, clearing slums, and establishing a new city-wide park system, finally developing the city into L'Enfant's intended grand design.

The New Deal spending of the 1930s led to the construction of even more federal buildings, memorials, and museums. Government activity only increased with the coming of World War II and the city hasn't looked back since.

Washingtons civic structure was envisioned by LEnfant as a series of sight-reciprical squares, fountains, and wide diagonal avenues anchored by a Grand Avenue, 400 feet in breadth, and about a mile in length, boardered with gardens, ending in a slope from the houses on each side and communication from the Presidents house and the Congress house, present-day Pennsylvania Avenue. The skeleton of LEnfants civic structure remains, though the original triangle has been extended into a cruciform with the reclamation of the Tidal Basin, and the Smithsonian Museums occupy the place of the houses along what is now now as the National Mall.Other than DuPont Circle, the importance of the Squares as part of the civic structure has never been realized, nor LEnfants intention that downtown develop east of the Capitol.

WASHINGTON D.C. TODAY

WASHINGTON MONUMENT CONGRESS HALL DUPONT CIRCLE SKYILNEWashington, D.C., is an impressive capital city that physically expresses many central values of the modern United States. It gloriously honors the nation's commitment to democracy and political life in impressive government buildings. The capital also maintains the nation's historical memory in monuments along the mall that commemorate key events and people. Finally, the city also announces the nation's commitment to knowledge and human achievement in the spectacularSMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS.

ARIEL VIEW : THE NATIONAL MALL

The monumental core of the city consists of theNational Malland many key federal buildings, monuments, and museums, including theWashington Monument,Lincoln Memorial, and theNational Air and Space Museum. Its layout is based on that proposed by theMcMillan Commissionreport in 1901.

LINCOLN MEMORIALCONSTITUTION GARDENSTHE ELLIPSEWHITE HOUSEWASHINTON MONUMENTFEDERAL TRIANGLESMITHSONIAN MUSEUMSREFLECTING POOLU.S. CAPITOLCONGRESS LIBRARYSUPREME COURTSENATE BLDGS. LE ENFANTS PLAZAJEFFERSON MEMORIAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

CIVIC PLAN OF WASHINGTON D.C.

The problem with the Mall is:

It is too far away from the urban center of residences and officesThe McMillan Plan effectively pushed all functions other than government administration north of Pennsylvania Avenue. This seperation of the Mall from the populations everyday space means that it can only function as a destination instead of an integrated fabric.

It looses its legibility west of the Washington MonumentWith no built edge to the south, the Mall falls into the Potomac and looses its legibility as a space instead of a landscape.

It is strictly ceremonial spaceAs ceremonial space, the primary use of the Mall is to look at it, an activity engaged in primarily by visitors instead of residents. Furthermore, it is not on the way to any part of the city, but stands apart, situated between the River and the City.

HERE YOU CAN EASILY FIND THAT ACTUALY THE MALL IS TOO FAR FROM REST OF THE CITYURBAN-IS-NATION

BUILDING TYPES & URBAN FABRICThe detatched house was introduced in the outskirts of the District in the early Twentieth Century. Originally laid out in traditional blocks with similar setbacks, the block gave way to the suburban serpentine street system typical of the mid and late Twentieth Century. This building type does not occur within the section of the city planned by LEnfant.

Demand for stately space in the Capital drove the development of Urban Villas, which were detached buildings with a processional entramce. Often housing either diplomatic or charitable functions, these are most prevelant on 16th Street and Embassy Row along Wisconsin Avenue.

The institutional building is a significant part of the Washington landscape. Typically governmental or museums, they are set apart as neo-classical objects in an often idealized landscape. During Urban Renewal in the Southwest quadrant, modern buildings were sited much the same way without the landscaping.

GOOD URBAN SPACEGood Urban Space Must

be near people

Density is necessary for urbanity. People must be present and fill the space. Density is often thought of in terms of residential density, but this is not the only way to think about it. Downtown Washington is a bustling urban place based entirely on the density of office space and the long-hour work habits of those who occupy those offices.

b) be accessible to people both in reality and perceptually

People will use the spaces convenient to them, or perceived to be convenient. Urban spaces must be right outside the door, more or less. Washingtons most famous space, the National Mall, is not its most used because it is inconvenient for the average Washingtonian to get to.

c) be legible to people

Space must have edges, paths, and centers that allow people to read it without effort to orient themselves and understand where they are. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to reference the environment that they are already used toone of streets bounded by buildings, spaces with hard edges and corners, and monumental landmarks.

d) allow multiple layers of activity and movement

Urban space must be appropriable for the needs of the moment. The street can simultaneously serve the needs of transportation, marketplace, and recreationthe square as recreation for the more fortunate and residential for the less fortunate. Cities like Paris, Cambridge, and DC are not great because of their architecture, but because of the human zoo occupying the spaces of those cities.

STREETS & SPACESStreets and spaces were an important part of LEnfants plan for the new Capital. While the overall pattern of the streets and diagonal avenues is well documented. LEnfant was also particular about the width and lay out of the street section. LEnfant conceived of the Mall as The Grand Avenue, with a width of 400 feet. The diagonals, including the armature streets of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, were to be 160 feet in width. Streets leading to public buildings or markets were to be 130 feet and others were to be either 110 or 90 feet in width.

LEnfant also planned for reservations of space at key intersections and established a Neo-Classical program of siting buildings or other monuments in these spaces. While many of the spaces have collected statues and monuments, the full intention of LEnfant has never been realized. Such wide streets and numerous spaces, combined with the height limit of buildings in Washington give the public space a particular character. The city is bright and open. Furthermore, the building setbacks provide space for trees and gardens which are in abundance in the city. This character continues beyond the original area of the city, and while the grid and diagonal system of streets breaks down north of Florida Avenue, the commitment to openness and green continues.

Massachusetts AvenueScott Circle

Dupont Circle

DuPont Circle is Washingtons best example of how LEnfants reservations and squares could work. A vibrant park and traffic rotary combined, the Circle is at the intersection of three major diagonal avenues and the center of the Dupont Circle Neighborhood, a mix of commercial, retail, and residential uses. The space of the Circle is delineated by corner buildings, streets, medians, and trees. The Dupont Circle neighbourhood is situated northeast of Georgetown and surrounds Dupont Circle, a park centred at the intersection of five streets: Connecticut,New Hampshire, and Massachusettsavenues and 19th and P streets.during theGreat Depressionof the 1930s, when residents were forced to sell their Dupont Circle homes, many of which were converted into boarding houses, offices, private clubs, and embassies; other homes eventually were torn down and replaced with mid-rise apartment, commercial, and office buildings.

DUPONT CIRCLE AT PRESENTMAKING CITY ECO-FRIENDLY

NEW BOUNDARIES ALONG THE POTOMAC AND EASTERN RIVERS ADD TO CLEAR AIR INTO CITY

PREPARING NEW PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLING PATHS ALONG THE BUSY AREAS OF CITY AND RELEIVING THE CONJESTION

FEW AREAS REQUIRE PHYSICAL BARRIERS.. RENOWATING THE ROADS AND INTERSECTION POINTS

MAKING THE NEW FOCAL POINTS AND SETTING TO NEW EXPANSION OF BOUNDARIES

PREPARED GREEN BELT OF CITY

STREETSCAPING AND PLAZAS OF NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENT

ROAD NETWORK

HERE YOU CANEASILY VIEW THE DIAGONAL CUTTINH ARTRIEL ROADS ON GRID PATTERNED ROAD NETWORKCity layoutThe city is split into four quadrants of unequal size, which radiate out from theCapitol Building: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). The NW quadrant is by far the largest and SW the smallest. Addresses in the city always include the quadrant abbreviation, e.g., 1000 H Street NE. Take note of the quadrant, otherwise you may find yourself on the exact opposite side of town from your destination!City streets are generally laid out in a grid, with east-west streets primarily named with letters (AW) and north-south streets named with numbers. The street numbers and letters increase as the distance from the Capitol building increases. The numerous diagonal avenues, many named after states, that serve as the city's principal arteries. The street numbers and letters increase with distance from the Capitol. The grid has a few peculiarities that are a legacy from the city's foundation. The City of Washington originally occupied only a portion of the total area of the District. As a result, outside of what is now often called the "L'Enfant City" streets do not strictly adhere to the grid system. However, you will find that many street names were simply extended where practical and, past the letter "W", east-west streets loosely follow other alphabetical naming patterns.Curious to note, visitors to Washington will quickly discover that there is no "J" St. This is because, until the mid-nineteenth century, the letters "I" and "J" were indistinguishable when written. Following that same idea, "I" Street is often written as "Eye" Street, to distinguish it from the letter "L" and the numeral "1", and "Q" Street, is often written "Que," "Cue," or "Queue."

THE STRONG GRID IRON PATTERN AND DEDICATED DIAGONAL ROADS NOT ONLY MANAGE THE TRAFFIC BUT REDUCE THE LONG DISTANCES FOR EASY FAR MOVEMENTS. SEE HOW ROADS ARE TURENED GREEN THRU PLANTATION WITH SMALL CENTERD PATCH OF PARKS AND ROUND ABOUTS.WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWNWASHINGTON D.C.D.C. is a walking and biking townIt's no surprise that D.C. has been cited as the fittest city in the country; residents and visitors get a lot of exercise simply getting around the city! Even if you plan on taking the Metro, bus, or driving (not recommended) to get downtown, you will often find yourself walking, biking, or taking a pedicab for the remainder of the day.

Most of the city's attractions are located near each other, such as the museums and monuments along the National Mall, which makes driving or taking Metro between locations either impractical or in some cases impossible.

RAIL NETWORKAmtrak trains arrive from all over the country, particularly the Northeast Corridor (Boston-to-Richmond). All stop atUnion Station(Red Line Metro), a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building. TheCapitol Limitedcomes fromChicago, passing throughPittsburghandCleveland while theCardinalruns to Chicago passing thruCincinnatiandIndianapolis. A few lines also stop in adjacentAlexandria,Virginia, very close to the King Street

TheMetrorailis D.C.'s intra-city train system. It is composed of six color-coded rail lines that run primarily underground within the District and above ground in the nearby suburbs. Washingtonians are proud of their Metro system. It's clean, safe, user-friendly, and sports a surprisingly elegant and pleasing brutalist aesthetic. Metrobusoperates hundreds of routes throughout the D.C. metro area. Metrobus will take you places hard to reach via Metrorail or the Circulator, and can be a really convenient, comfortable way to travel. In addition, some Metrobus lines operate later into the night than Metrorail. WMATA's website publishesmaps and timetablesfor all routes, as well as system mapsfor its entire network.

METRO RAIL AND METRO BUS MAPSWASHINGTON AND GREATER WASHINGTON D.C.PARKS AND GREEN BELTS

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens,1550 Anacostia AvenueThe only aquatic gardens managed by the National Park Service in the country is a marvelous off-the-beaten-path destination in D.C.

ANACOSTIA MARSHY LANDS OR WETLANDS

The Kenilworth marsh is all that remains of the vast marshlands that once covered the riverbanks of the Anacostia (before being dredged for development), and is the only place where you can really imagine the District before it became America's capital. The prime attraction are the cultivated ponds, full of waterlilies, but it's also a worthy destination for the riverfront trail, greenhouses, and birdwatching. Rock Creek ParkIf you look on a map, Rock Creek Park is evidently the District's central respiratory system, bisecting the city north of the Anacostia River, and covering nearly 2,000 acres of thickly forested hills. It's a national park, full of deer (who overpopulate, due to lack of predators), squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, birds, and even a few coyotes. The paved biking/running trail is one of the nation's best, and it extends all the way from the Lincoln Memorial way out intoMaryland(it also connects with the Mount Vernon trail inNorthern Virginia). But there are tons more paths, from the hiking trail network to bridle paths, as well as a boatload of picnic spots, a golf course, a variety of Ranger-led/educational programs, and even a boat rental center on the Potomac

DC GIS. Washington, D.C. [http://dcgis.dc.gov/] 2005.

Green, Joshua. Monumental failure: why we should commercialize the National Mall Washington Monthly. Oct 2002.

Miller, Iris, 1938- Washington in maps, 1606-2000 / Iris Miller ; [contributing authors, Timothy Davis ... et al.]. New York, N.Y. : Rizzoli, 2002.

Passonneau, Joseph. Washington through two centuries : a history in maps and images / Joseph R. Passonneau. New York : Monacelli Press, 2004.BIBLIOGRAPHY