Pennsylvania Avenueis a primarily diagonal street inWashington, D.C.that connects theUnited States Capitolwith theWhite Houseand then crosses northwest Washington, D.C. toGeorgetown.Traveling throughsoutheast Washingtonfrom the Capitol, it entersPrince George's County, Maryland,and becomesMD Route 4(MD 4) and thenMD Route 717inUpper Marlboro,and finally Stephanie Roper Highway.
 Pennsylvania Avenue with theU.S. Capitolin the background in June 2022 | |
| Length | 35.1 mi (56.5 km) |
|---|---|
| Width | 160 feet |
| Location | Washington, D.C.andPrince George's County, Maryland,U.S. |
 | |
The section of the avenue between the White House, which is sometimes referred to by its address "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue", and the Capitol forms the basis for thePennsylvania Avenue National Historic Siteand is sometimes referred to as "America's Main Street";[1]it is the location of official parades and processions, and periodic protest marches. Pennsylvania Avenue is an important commuter road and is part of theNational Highway System.[2][3]
Route
editThe avenue runs for 5.8 miles (9.3 km) inWashington, D.C.,but the 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of Pennsylvania Avenue from theWhite Houseto theUnited States Capitolbuilding is far and away the most famed section of the avenue. It continues within the city for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), from the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds through theCapitol Hillneighborhood, and over theAnacostia Riveron theJohn Philip Sousa Bridge.Crossing most ofPrince George's County, Maryland,it ends 9.5 miles (15.3 km) from the Washington, D.C. border inMarylandat the junction with MD 717 inUpper Marlboro,where the name changes to Stephanie Roper Highway, for a total length of 15.3 miles (24.6 km). Stephanie Roper Highway used to be Pennsylvania Avenue, but was renamed in 2012. In addition to itsstreet names,in Maryland it is designated asMaryland Route 4.
Northwest of the White House, Pennsylvania Avenue runs for 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to its end atM Street N.W.inGeorgetown,just beyond thePennsylvania Avenue BridgeoverRock Creek.From 1862 to 1962,streetcarsran the length of the avenue fromGeorgetownto theAnacostia River.
History
edit18th century
edit
Although Pennsylvania Avenue extends six miles (10 km) inWashington, D.C.,the expanse between theWhite Houseand theUnited States Capitolconstitutes the ceremonial heart of the nation. It was designed byPierre Charles L'Enfant,and was one of the earliest streets constructed in the city. The width of the avenue was set at 160 feet, identical to the narrowest points of theChamps Elyseesin Paris that L'Enfant is likely to have examined. The first documented reference to the street as Pennsylvania Avenue was in a 1791 letter fromThomas Jefferson.One theory behind the avenue's name is that it was named forPennsylvaniaas consolation for moving the capital fromPhiladelphiain 1800 and in recognition of Pennsylvania's historical significance in the nation's founding.[4]Both Jefferson and Washington considered Pennsylvania Avenue an important feature of the new capital. The stretch outside theWhite Housewas established in 1804 when President Jefferson ordered the road to be cut through President's Park. For decades, Pennsylvania Avenue was a wide dirt road ridiculed by Jefferson as "The GreatSerbonian Bog",he planted it with rows of fast-growingPopulus nigra.[citation needed]
19th century
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In 1832, in an effort to tame dust and dirt on Pennsylvania Avenue, it was paved using themacadammethod. But over the years, other pavement methods were trialed on the avenue:cobblestonesin 1849 followed byBelgian blocksand then, in 1871, wooden blocks.
Pennsylvania Avenue once provided an unobstructed view between the White House and the Capitol. The construction of an expansion to theTreasury Buildingblocked this view, and supposedly PresidentAndrew Jacksondid this on purpose. Relations between the president and Congress were strained, and Jackson did not want to see the Capitol out his window,[5]though in reality the Treasury Building was simply built on what was cheap government land.
In 1876, as part of an initiative begun by PresidentUlysses S. Grantto see the city's streets improved, Pennsylvania Avenue was paved withasphaltbyCivil WarveteranWilliam Averell[6]usingTrinidad and Guanoco lakes asphalt.[7]
20th century
editIn 1959, Pennsylvania Avenue was extended from the Washington, D.C. border withMarylandto Dower House Road inUpper Marlboro, Maryland.[8]
On September 30, 1965, portions of the avenue and surrounding area were designated thePennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site.TheNational Park Serviceadministers this area which includes theUnited States Navy Memorial,Old Post Office Tower,andPershing Park.[4]After theGreat Depressionin the 1930s and the move of affluent families tosuburbsin the 1950s, Pennsylvania Avenue became increasingly blighted.John F. KennedyandLyndon B. Johnsontried to redevelop the street as part of theNew FrontierandGreat Societyreforms, but the avenue further declined after the1968 Washington, D.C., riotsin the aftermath of theassassination of Martin Luther King Jr.[9]
In 1972,Congresscreated the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) to rehabilitate the street between the Capitol and the White House, an area seen as blighted. The new organization was given the mandate of developing Pennsylvania Avenue "in a manner suitable to its ceremonial, physical, and historic relationship to the legislative and executive branches of thefederal government".[4]
In the 1980s, renovations were made to theWillard Hotel,theOld Post Office,andWashington Union Station,each located on or adjacent to Pennsylvania Avenue.[9]
21st century
editIn 2010, the District of Columbia designated Pennsylvania Avenue from the southwestern terminus ofJohn Philip Sousa Bridgeto the Maryland state line to be a "D.C. Great Street". The city spent $430 million to beautify the street and improve the roadway.[10]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,businesses along Pennsylvania Avenue faced significant challenges and closures. With reduced tourism, remote work trends keeping office buildings quieter, and a historical lack of the avenue itself being a primary destination, many establishments struggled to sustain operations. The combination of decreased foot traffic and shifting consumer behavior further strained local businesses, leading to closures as they struggled to adapt to the new economic realities.
In 2022, theNational Capital Planning Commission(NCPC) launched the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative to revitalize the iconic thoroughfare by transforming it into a dynamic public space and transportation corridor. Accelerated by the changes brought about by remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative aims to re-imagine Pennsylvania Avenue from its current eight-lane design predominantly catering to cars to a more inclusive and equitable space. This vision includes accommodating a variety of activities and users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles, and delivery trucks, alongside hosting events and fostering community engagement.
To achieve this transformation, the initiative involves collaborative efforts between NCPC and consulting teams like HR&A Advisors. They are tasked with updating traffic studies to explore reallocating roadway space for new sidewalks, bike lanes, transit-only lanes, mid-block crossings, and other streetscape elements. Additionally, the initiative prioritizes refining early design concepts into preferred alternatives based on economic feasibility, stakeholder input, and environmental considerations. Ultimately, the goal is to elevate Pennsylvania Avenue's status as a premier public space in Washington, DC, comparable to other renowned urban boulevards around the world.
In 2024, NCPC is expected to announce a second consultant team to help develop the New Pennsylvania Avenue Plan that will address design and infrastructure improvements along the corridor and adjoining public spaces.
Parades and protests
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Presidential inaugurations
editEver since an impromptu procession formed aroundJefferson's second inauguration,everyU.S. presidentexceptRonald Reaganin hissecond inaugurationin January 1985 has paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue after taking theoath of office.Reagan paraded up the avenue for hisfirst inaugurationin January 1981 but not following his second inauguration in 1985 because freezing temperatures and high winds made it dangerous.
Presidential funeral processions
editFromWilliam Henry HarrisontoGerald Ford,the funeral corteges of seven of the eight presidents who died in office and two former presidents followed this route.Franklin Rooseveltwas the only president who died in office whose cortege did not follow this route.
Abraham Lincoln'sfuneral cortegesolemnly proceeded along Pennsylvania Avenue in 1865; only weeks later, the end of theAmerican Civil Warwas celebrated with theGrand Review of the Armieswhen theArmy of the Potomacparaded more joyously along the avenue. The funeral processions of bothLyndon B. Johnsonand Ford funeral corteges proceeded down Pennsylvania Avenue. For Lyndon Johnson, the cortege was along Pennsylvania Avenue fromU.S. CapitoltoNational City Christian Church,where he often worshiped and where his funeral was held.Ford's funeralwent up Pennsylvania Avenue, pausing at theWhite Houseen route toWashington National Cathedral,where his funeral was held.
Protests and celebrations
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In addition to serving as a location for official functions, Pennsylvania Avenue is a traditional parade and protest route of ordinary citizens. During thedepression of the 1890s,Jacob Coxeymarched 500 supporters down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol to demand federal aid for the unemployed. Similarly, on the eve ofWoodrow Wilson's1913 inauguration,Alice Paulmasterminded a parade, theWoman Suffrage Procession,highlighting thewomen's suffrage movement.In July 1932, a contingent of theBonus Expeditionary Forcecarried flags up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where they formed picket lines.
Pennsylvania Avenue also has served as a background for more lighthearted celebrations, including a series ofShriner's parades in the 1920s and 1930s.ThomasandConcepcion Picciottoare the founders of theWhite House Peace Vigil,the longest-runninganti-nuclearpeacevigilin the nation atLafayette Squareon the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.[11][12]
Security measures
editAfter theOklahoma City bombingin 1995, theSecret Serviceclosed the portion of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of theWhite Houseto all vehicular traffic. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic, however, was still permitted on the sidewalk. After theSeptember 11 attacks,all traffic in front of the White House was prohibited, and traffic near the White House is redirected toH StreetorConstitution Avenue,both of which eventually link back with Pennsylvania Avenue.
In 2002, theNational Capital Planning Commissioninvited several prominent landscape architects to submit proposals for the redesign of Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House, with the intention that the security measures would be woven into an overall plan for the precinct and a more welcoming public space might be created. The winning entry by a firm run byMichael Van Valkenburghproposed a very simple approach to planting, paving, and the integration of required security steps. Construction was completed in 2004.[13]
Sites of interest
editFrom east to west:
TheNational TheatreandWarner Theatreuse Pennsylvania Avenue mailing addresses, although the theaters are nearby on E Street and 13th Street respectively.
Transit service
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Metrobus
editThe followingMetrobusroutes travel along the street (listed from west to east):
- 30N (Branch Ave. SE to Independence Ave. SE, then 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then H St. N.W. to M St. N.W.)
- 30S (Minnesota Ave. SE to Independence Ave. SE, then 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then H St. N.W. to M St. N.W.)
- 38B (Eye St. N.W. to M St. N.W.)
- 33 (9th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then H St. N.W. to M St. N.W.)
- 31, D5 (Washington Circle to M St. N.W.)
- 36 (Branch Ave. SE to Independence Ave. SE, then 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then H St. N.W. to Washington Circle)
- 32 (Minnesota Ave. SE to Independence Ave. SE, then 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then H St. N.W. to Washington Circle)
- 39 (Limited stopservice from Southern Ave. to Independence Ave., then 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W., then Eye St. N.W. to Washington Circle)
- 37 (Limited stop service from 7th St. N.W. to 15th St. N.W.)
- 16C (6th St. N.W. to 12th St. N.W.)
- P6 (4th St. N.W. to 11th St. N.W.)
- 34 (Minnesota Ave. SE to Independence Ave. SE)
- M6 (Alabama Ave. SE to Potomac Ave. SE)
- B2, V4 (Minnesota Ave. SE to Potomac Ave. SE)
- V12 (Brooks Dr. to Shadyside Ave.)
- K12 (Forestville Rd. to Parkland Dr., then Walters La. to Donnell Dr.)
- J12 (Eastbound only from Forestville Rd. to Old Marlboro Pike)
DC Circulator
editTheDC Circulatortravels along the street:
- Georgetown-Union Station (20th St. N.W. to M St. N.W.)
MTA Maryland Commuter Bus
editThe followingMTA Maryland Commuter Busroutes travel along the street:
- 904 (Anacostia Freeway to Independence Ave., then 7th St. NW to 11th St. NW)
- 905 (7th St. N.W. to 11th St. N.W.)
Bus
editThe following routes ofTheBusserve Pennsylvania Ave. in Prince George's County:
- 24 (Old Silver Hill Rd. to Brooks Dr.)
- 20 (Marlboro Pike to Donnell Dr.)
Washington Metro
editThe followingWashington Metrostations have entrances located near Pennsylvania Avenue:
References
edit- ^Pennsylvania Avenue, National Historic SiteArchived2010-08-30 at theWayback Machine.National Park Service.
- ^United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies (1995).Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1995.U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 142.ISBN978-0-16-046724-0.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2023.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
- ^Scot Schraufnagel (August 11, 2011).Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress.Scarecrow Press. p. 166.ISBN978-0-8108-7455-8.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2023.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
- ^abc"Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site and Old Post Office Building".Washington, DC: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary.National Park Service.Archivedfrom the original on January 21, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 21,2009.
- ^"FAQs: Main Treasury Building".United States Department of the Treasury.Archivedfrom the original on May 13, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 7,2013.
- ^Lively, Mathew W. (April 8, 2013)."William Averell Paves the Way to the White House, Literally".Civil War Profiles.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2013.RetrievedDecember 19,2013.
- ^McNichol, Dan (2005). "Chapter 4: Asphalting the Avenues".Paving the Way: Asphalt in America.Lanham, Maryland: National Asphalt Pavement Association. pp. 38–55.ISBN0-914313-04-5.
- ^Rowland, James B. (December 1, 1959). "6 Miles of New Road to Beaches Opened".The Evening Star.
- ^abTroy, Gil (December 31, 2013),"1981 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: The Ronald Reagan Show, the New Dynasty, and David Stockman's Reaganomics",Morning in America,Princeton University Press, pp. 58–59,doi:10.1515/9781400849307.50,ISBN978-1-4008-4930-7,archivedfrom the original on November 23, 2021,retrievedNovember 26,2021
- ^Thomson, Robert (May 30, 2010). "Patience Required for Travelers on Pennsylvania Avenue".The Washington Post.
- ^The Oracles of Pennsylvania AvenueArchived2012-07-10 atarchive.today
- ^Colman McCarthy(February 8, 2009)."From Lafayette Square Lookout, He Made His War Protest Permanent".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 8,2017.
- ^Fernandez, Manny (November 10, 2004)."America's Main Street Revisited; Pennsylvania Ave. Reopened to Pedestrians".The Washington Post.p. A01. Archived fromthe originalon July 24, 2012.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
External links
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