Series: History and Archeology of the District of Columbia Monumental Core

The Monumental Core in the District of Columbia contains some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes, landmarks and memorials. The modern landscape bears little resemblance to the natural environment or the nineteenth-century city. (series by Charles LeeDecker)

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 1: Uncovering the history of D.C.'s Landscape

  

  Although the formally landscaped public lands of D.C. are a now premier tourist destination and a stage for countless celebrations and demonstrations, the history of the underlying landscape is little known. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 2: The L'Enfant Plan

  

  Pierre L’Enfant’s city plan of 1790 features a network of broad diagonal axes superimposed over a more traditional pattern of east-west and north-south streets. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 3: Washington Canal

  

  Eventually turned into the B Street sewer, the development of Washington Canal saw much criticism from the public and was originally planned to perform various functions. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 4: The 17th Street Wharf

  

  The wharf at 17th Street was a prominent feature of the 19th -century landscape in D.C. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 5: Flood Abatement and Landmass Creation: Part 1

  

  Catastrophic floods have occurred throughout the D.C.'s history, and efforts to provide flood protection also have a long history. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 6: Flood Abatement and Landmass Creation: Part 2

  

  While lacking the glamour and profile of the Eiffel Tower or the Brooklyn Bridge, the reclamation of Potomac Flats stands as a major engineering achievement of the late 19th century. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 7: Archeology in the Monumental Core: Part 1

  

  Over the past few years, a number of development projects in the Monumental Core have allowed archeologists to re-examine these assumptions and to document an archeological record of some historical interest. Read more

• National Mall and Memorial Parks

  Article 8: Archeology in the Monumental Core: Part 2

  

  Recent construction projects along 17th Street have revealed a few archeological sites associated with the landscapes that existed prior to creation of the Monumental Core park lands. Read more