| Bibliography | Video | Pictures |
| Introduction | Links | Interesting Facts |
Introduction:
Pierre Charles L'Enfant came to America from France to fight in the Revolutionary War and became a trusted city planner for George Washington. L'Enfant designed the city from scratch, wanting to build a grand capital of wide avenues, public squares and inspiring buildings in places of hills, forests, marshes, and plantations. The centerpiece Pierre wanted for his plan was a "public walk." Washington D.C was established in 1790 when the act of Congress authorized a federal district along the Potomac River, in between the Northern and Southern States.President Washington chose a land 100 sq. miles where the Eastern Branch met the Potomac River north of his Virginia home. Washington asked Pierre L'Enfant, an architect, to search the area and recommend the locations for building and streets. He arrived in Georgetown in March 1791 and got to work right away. Pierre placed Congress on a high point with a view of the Potomac River. Capitol Hill became the center of the city. Public squares and parks were created evenly everywhere. Pennsylvania Avenue stretched a mile west from the Capitol Hill to the White House and created much developement for the points in between. Later on, the cities surveyor, Andrew Ellicot, made a map that included details for lot sales. It was very similar to Pierre L'Enfant's, but the French got no credit for it. After this, Pierre resigned. He died in 1825 and never recieved a payment for his work on the capital and the city was still not finished.
Interesting Facts
- Washington D.C. was established in 1790 when an act of Congress authorized a federal district along the Potomac River in between the northern and southern states on the western frontier.
- Washington asked L'Enfant to survey the area to recommend locations for buildings and streets.
- His design was based on European models.
- City commissioners were concerned with funding the project and didn't go along with Pierre's thoughts.
- A century after Pierre made the capital,Washington was still not complete.
Video
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/Palladio-Americas-Architectural-Grandfather.html
Pictures
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Links
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/lenfant.htm
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/brief-history-of-lenfant.html
Bibliography
Smithsonian.com. Copyright 2010
Smithsonian Media.Smithsonian Institute.
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Designer of Page: Kayla J. Bellot of St.Gabriel School
Last Updated:4/11/11