History

Today the term National Mall includes the area historically referred to as the Mall (which extends from the grounds of the U.S. Capital to the Washington Monument), and West Potomac Park (including the Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War Veterans, World War II, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials). In this discussion of the history of the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Park, the development history of some adjacent areas is also discussed because of their common history with the National Mall and because they are managed by the National Park Service. The White House and President’s Park, a unit of the national park system, is within the Reserve (see the “Existing Conditions” section), but it is not within the National Mall. Refer to other papers on “Planning Issues” and “Legal Considerations,” for information on what is included in the study area and the adjacent planning area.

Link to History of the National Mall and Pennsylvania Ave NHP (pdf)

Timeline and Historic Plans: Illustrating the Evolution of the "Monumental Core" of the Nation's Capital Link to page 1, Link to page 2, Link to page 3 (pdf files)

Constitution Gardens Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI)

• Constitution Gardens (2.5 mb pdf)

DC War Memorial Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI)

• DC War Memorial (3.4 mb pdf)

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI)

• Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Cultural Landscape Inventory
  (revised 2009) (2.8 mb pdf)

Mall Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI)

• Mall (CLI) pt 1(4.2 mb pdf)
• Mall CLI pt 2 (4 mb pdf)
• Mall CLI pt 3 (5 mb pdf)
• Mall CLI pt 4 (4 mb pdf)
• Mall CLI pt 5 (4.8 mb pdf)

Union Square Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI)

• Union Square (CLI) pt 1 (4 mb pdf)
• Union Square CLI pt 2 (4 mb pdf)
• Union Square CLI pt 3 (4 mb pdf)
• Union Square CLI pt 4 (3 mb pdf)
• Union Square CLI pt 5 (2.9 mb pdf)

Washington Monument Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI)

• Washington Monument CLI (revised Oct 2009) (3.1 mb pdf)

Other Documents and links:

• A History of National Capital Parks (1953)
• A History of the Washington Monument 1844-1968 - to be added
• The Contributions of Charles Carroll Glover and Other Citizens
  to the Development of the National Capital (no date) (pdf)
• The Evolution of the National Mall: Two Centuries of Debate -
  presentation (pdf)
  Part 1 (8 mb), Part 2 (5 mb), Part 3 (24 mb), Part 4 (4 mb)
• Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for the 21st Century
• Legislative History of National Capital Parks and Descriptions
  of the Seventeen Original Reservations (pdf)
  
  
• Lincoln Memorial: Cultural Landscape Report
  I and II Cover, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Introduction,
  pages i to10 (pdf)
  III. Site History, Part 1, pages 11-40 (4.4 mb pdf)
  III. Site History, Part 2, pages 41-70 (5 mb pdf)
  IV. Analysis and Evaluation, Part 1, pages 71-108 (4.4 mb pdf)
  IV. Analysis and Evaluation, Part 2, pages 109-143 (5 mb pdf)
  IV. Analysis and Evaluation, Part 3, pages 144-166 (3.3 mb pdf)
  V. and VI. National Register Status and Design Guidelines, pages 167-190 (1 mb pdf)
  VII. and VIII. Endnotes and Bibiliography, pages 191-224, (1 mb pdf)
  Entire Cultural Landscape Report (25.4 mb pdf)
  
  
• Link to National Mall & Memorial Parks Management Documents page
• Memorials and Museums Master Plan
• McMillan Commission Plan for Washington, DC in 1902
• National Capital Area Archeological Overview and Survey Plan (1995) (pdf)
• Link to The Lincoln Memorial (1927)
• The Origin and History of the Washington Monument Flag Display (1992) (pdf)
• The Washington Mall, Circulation Systems (1973) (37 mb pdf)
• The Washington Monument: A Technical History and Catalog
  of the Commemorative Stones (2005)
• Tidal Basin Inlet Bridge Historic Structure Report (1986) (pdf)
• West Potomac Park HRS (pdf)

Link to Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Park map - June 1995 (pdf)

Link to East and West Potomac Parks Historic District, Revised National Register
of Historic Places Nomination (pdf))

Link to Lincoln Memorial Rehabilitation and Security Project/EA page

Link to Thomas Jefferson Memorial Planning Documents page

Link to McMillan Plan, or Senate Park Commission Plan of 1902. (pdf)
McMillan Plan Images, courtesy of U.S. Commission of Fine Arts

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