| Every visitor to Washington becomes familiar with the National Mall. Most of the Smithsonian museums and galleries surround the 146-acre area, and it is also home to the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. When the city's original designer, Pierre L'Enfant, first envisioned Washington, D.C., he pictured spacious avenues and gardens that would grace the capitol city of an emerging nation. One of the centerpieces of downtown was to be a broad avenue stretching one mile in length and bordered by private houses and gardens. However, this vision was not realized for quite some time. At the turn of the century, the National Mall reached its nadir. Essentially a big mud patch, it was in dire need of refurbishing. Union Station was not yet built, so railroad tracks, stations, and sheds criss-crossed the National Mall. Exotic live animals were even kept on the grounds because the National Zoo was not yet opened. At this point Congress appointed the McMillan Commission to clean up the Mall and make improvements to Washington in general. Their work is evident throughout the city, and their effort to fulfill L'Enfant's vision for the Mall is by far their greatest accomplishment. Today, the broad lawn of the National Mall stretches approximately from the Washington Monument all the way to the Capitol. It is the site of festivals, political rallies, and other events that are held in Washington. It is then hub of all the action in Washington, D.C. |
