Ideas for a 3rd Century National Mall

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Ideas for a "3rd Century" National Mall

by David Alpert • November 20, 2009 1:04 pm

The National Coalition to Save Our Mall has released their plan for the future of the National Mall.

McMillan Plan for the Mall.

They call this a "3rd Century Mall," building on the original L'Enfant Mall from the White House to the Washington Monument to the Capitol, and the 1901 McMillan Commission's expanded Mall and Federal Triangle. They point out that original plans envisioned the Mall as a "backdrop to the business of government," not the "civic stage" for large rallies and protests, or the tourist attraction that it has become.

As a result, the Mall always seems incomplete and haphazard. As the report points out, shady, tree-lined paths west of suddenly turn into a sun-baked expanse around the Washington Monument. Memorials large and small lack overall coherence. There are few food and restroom amenities for visitors, little to appeal to children, and poor transportation. And, they say, the National Park Service's Mall plan is more of a "grounds keeping and maintenance plan" and the patchwork of federal agencies' overlapping plans "embrace the status quo."

The plan suggests many potential improvements, such as:

Manage the Mall for recreation. The report points out that the National Gallery programs the Sculpture Garden as a gathering place for people, but the Park Service prohibits gatherings on adjacent land to protect trees.
Expand shade and fountains. Continue the tree-lined promenade by the Smithsonian museums across the Washington Monument grounds. Build fountains, as originally proposed by the McMillan Plan, for "beauty, refreshment, and fun."
Provide public transportation within the Mall. The Park Service currently prohibits all buses except the Tourmobile on Mall roads. The $27 interpretive Tourmobile is great for some, but there also needs to be a low-cost Circulator for those who just want to get around without the multi-mile walks.
Expand the Mall itself. Incorporate adjacent spaces, like the L'Enfant Promenade and Banneker Overlook south of the Smithsonian Castle, into the Mall to create more space for future museums, memorials and events.
Add narratives to existing memorials.. Instead of creating completely standalone new memorials on whatever empty space is available, incorporate new statues and plaques at or near existing, related memorials. For example, they suggest adding a statue of James Madison to the George Mason memorial near the Jefferson Memorial, to link the authors of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.

Left: Concept for a new Banneker Overlook.
Right: A Madison statue at the George Mason memorial.

Create a Presidents' Garden at the Ellipse. There is a trend toward more memorials for Presidents, such as FDR and the upcoming Eisenhower Memorial. Make the Ellipse, adjacent to the White House, a space for all of these and enable visitors to learn about many Presidents at once.
Encourage temporary memorials. Designate certain spaces on the Mall where temporary installations can mark anniversaries of important events or other special occasions. After a time, remove those installations and make space for the next.
Create a Mall visitors' center. There is no single place to understand the totality of the mall and get information on activities. Create a visitors' center at the currently unused Arts and Industries Building or around the Washington Monument.
Develop educational "walks." Provide materials and signs to create self-guided tours around parts of the Mall and surrounding buildings
Program outdoor space. Few museums engage visitors outside the walls of their buildings. Encourage museums to put exhibition items outside, like the dinosaur that used to stand outside the Museum of Natural History.
Add more large events and activities for children. Other than the Folklife Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, and book festival, there are few outdoor events on the Mall, and the carousel is the only attraction for children.
Add support services for gatherings. Embrace rather than resist the Mall's evolving role for large rallies. Add video and sound systems to better facilitate these events.

Left: The Folklife Festival. Right: a Reflecting Pool upgraded for large events.

Expand restroom facilities. The existing restrooms are inadequate to the crowds that visit the Mall.
Engage visitors at agency buildings. Most buildings in the Federal Triangle and Southwest Federal Center close themselves off from the street and create a dead zone between the Mall and the city. Encourage agencies to open up parts of their buildings with programs like the new visitors' center in the U.S. Department of Agriculture building.

Mix municipal and government uses. The report notes that the McMillan Commission planned for functions like a market, armory, and police and fire headquarters in the Federal Triangle. Except for the Wilson Building, all of the buildings are exclusively federal.

46 comments

Tags: NPS, The Mall

How would you improve the Washington Monument area? (Jul 16, 2010)
"Monumentalism" puts postcard DC above human DC (Apr 19, 2010)
Where should the Latino museum go? (Jul 16, 2010)
Why aren't there buses to the memorials? (Aug 20, 2009)
Webb frustrated by congestion, tour buses on the Mall (Jun 17, 2010)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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I'm encouraged to see someone promoting the McMillan commission's proposals for the Washington Monument grounds, as it is, the Monument is just sitting on a bald hilltop. When I've been there the whole area just looks unfinished.

by Steve on Nov 20, 2009 1:34 pm • link • report

Why do we even need the mall ?

It serves no purpose; if you want a park go to a real one not some fake 2 mile long brown lawn for the capital.

If they need space for new memorials and museums how about the giant brown patch thats in between the NW buildings & SW buildings.

by Kk on Nov 20, 2009 1:49 pm • link • report

One more:

Don't hold the Folklife Festival during the most oppressively hot time of year anymore. I don't know...what about September?

by Reid on Nov 20, 2009 1:49 pm • link • report

"As the report points out, shady, tree-lined paths west of suddenly turn into a sun-baked expanse around the Washington Monument."

In fact, it happens so suddenly that it gets ahead of the name of whatever it is that we're suddenly West of! ;)

by jfruh on Nov 20, 2009 1:49 pm • link • report

Would it kill them to install some interesting outdoor playground space for kids? I dunno, mini-replicas of the WH, Capitol, Supreme Court, and monuments they can climb all over?

We need a Mall-specific bike-sharing program, including tandems/trailers/kiddy bikes so families and other visitors can get from one end to the other without needing buses, trains, cars, or long sweaty walks.

There is a lot of water to look at (Capitol and Lincoln reflecting pools, WWII fountains, NMAI cascades, Tidal Basin) but none to touch and play in. How about some fountains like the one outside the IMF building that are attractive yet invite some interaction from visitors willing to get a bit wet?

by Ward 1 Guy on Nov 20, 2009 1:51 pm • link • report

Reid you are a friggin GENIUS
I have been saying for YEARS exactly the same thing- WTF do the idiotic Smithsonian overlords have the Folklife Festival at the worst and most crowded time of the year for cripes sake?

They should have it in the Fall or the Spring- which are the best and most enjoyable times of the year in DC.

Also- IMO

the National mall needs it's very own dedicated light rail system to take visitors all around the sites.

They also need to allow more vendors and have some outdoor cafes on the Mall- why is a little dynamic commercialism a bad thing for these poor sweating families that often get treated so shabbily?

They [ we] deserve much better.

The government food stalls are fine for horses, but are in the business of over charging the average Joe & Jane who are ultimately paying the bill for all of us [ we].

How's that for a good rant ???

by w on Nov 20, 2009 2:22 pm • link • report

There's little to appeal to children? Not that I've ever noticed.

by Miriam on Nov 20, 2009 2:36 pm • link • report

Aside from the name, this plan sounds ok.

I'd suggest to also add (the entry to) Arlington Cemetery (the Island with the roundabout down to the Navy and Marine Memorial is formally DC, as well as under the supervision of the NPS), East Potomac Park and Roosevelt Island in the view. Perhaps even the Kennedy Center, the Georgetown Waterfront and the entry to Rock Creek Park.

There is a lot of unused space there. Not that I'd like to see it all built up, but at least put to a good use.

Most important things need to be efficient transportation (how to get from the Capitol to Roosevelt Island on foot, bike and via transit), resting space (rest rooms, shade, benches and some form of food) and a good integration of all the different elements of the Mall (government, museums, memorials, tourism).

Ideally, the Mall would become the welcome garden of the United States.

by Jasper on Nov 20, 2009 2:37 pm • link • report

The Smithsonian Castle is already a visitors center for the museums, and it wouldn't take much to make it useful for the rest of the Mall. In fact, I'm guessing one of the most-visited features of the Castle is the giant topographical map showing the Mall and surrounding attractions.

To construct a new visitors center would be a waste; all folks need is a map, a stack of brochures, and as a bonus someone to talk to. Oh, and bathrooms.

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 2:39 pm • link • report

I'd like to see a plan addressing how the Mall should look at night. Apparently there's some document stating which monuments should be lit the brightest, but aside from the major memorials, the bulk of the Mall is dark at night. True, it gets little use at night, but that's a missed opportunity. At least in summer a few museums have late hours (till 7:00), and some special events like "Hirshhorn After Hours" and Screen on the Green bring crowds at night.

I'd like to propose that at the very least the Smithsonian Castle be lit at night, as it is the symbol of the entire complex. The nearby Carousel should remain lit at least for an hour past sunset.

And if the snack kiosks could start serving food that doesn't suck, locals and tourists might even visit them at night just for dinner. Imagine having dinner on the Mall just because you like the food! Right now those dumps serve nothing but frozen chicken and icky hot dogs.

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 2:47 pm • link • report

Another aspect to be addessed is the annual parades that march on and near the Mall, for the 4th of July, St. PatrickÂ’s Day, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and Memorial Day.

The routes typically gather on 7th St on the Mall, then head west to 18th St via Constitution Ave.

First, as a photographer, I'd like to switch the direction to that marchers head east, so the morning sun illuminates their faces.

Second, just once, I'd like to see a parade use Independence Ave, if only because I want them to pass under the Knapp and Wilson Arches in the Dept of Agriculture! It would be awesome to have crowds on the arches, throwing down confetti and streamers.

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 2:58 pm • link • report

Michael -- those are good points. What if they started parades at 14th/Independence, came east, then north on 12th, and back around to 18th/Constiution. More viewing area and an end closer to the beginning for purposes of getting back to buses, etc. Plus those arches.

by ah on Nov 20, 2009 3:03 pm • link • report

The hot new thing in site interpretation is to use cell phones to transmit a guide, either audio, text messages, or augmented reality, like Wikitude does. Using phones is not only really awesome, it means the museum doesn't have to pay for audio guide equipment and the guide can be available at any time and any situation. The museum can also control the content better; the content is more than 50% true.

The Tree Museum, which is just a bunch of markers along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx is actually pretty fun - and when you get bored you just stop listening. It's temporary, but getting free speeches from inside the Lincoln Memorial or learning about the random guy who got a memorial in the 1893 would make a trip to the mall much richer than it already is.

by Neil Flanagan on Nov 20, 2009 3:05 pm • link • report

be great if there was some form of transport that was clean, comfortable, very low impact on the environment, blended in well with the surrounding environment, could fit in and through tight spaces, easy to get on and off, good for traveling just a few miles -- just enough to get around to most areas of the mall and adjacent properties/attractions, etc. hmmm...

by Peter Smith on Nov 20, 2009 3:08 pm • link • report

Neil - the NPS does in fact offer phone narratives for the Lincoln Memorial - 13 stories! Call (202) 747-3420 - more info at http://www.nps.gov/linc/parknews/upload/Lincoln%20Interp%20PR%208-27-07%20updated.pdf (bad URL! Too long and %20s are annoying)

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 3:20 pm • link • report

Getting rid of that hideous "temporary" concession at 15th Street would be a start. Also, a great place for expanded programing would be around the ponds at Constitution Gardens. There's a kiosk that could be used for selling beer, wine, other things (which it already does.) It just needs tables and some music on some night of the week.

by hansel on Nov 20, 2009 3:55 pm • link • report

If you've ever been to "Jazz in the Garden" at the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden (Friday night in the summer), you know that crowds will flock to the Mall after work, given something to do. The event is packed, with picnickers among the art. There is no admission, but I suspect the NGA makes a healthy profit just from the concessions.

Constitution Gardens could have a similar program, albeit without the art. But the NPS is not in the business of programming entertainment, so some other organization would have to step in. Ideally they could use concession sales for revenue, but I'm sure the paperwork would be a nightmare.

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 4:15 pm • link • report

There are many good comments here. I haven't read the report yet, but I wonder if they link their recommendations to the Capital Space plan, which is not all that great and leaves a lot to be desired.

When I write my comments to the CS plan (due 12/7) I will be sure to consider the ideas in this thread and the NCTSOM report.

by Richard Layman on Nov 20, 2009 4:52 pm • link • report

Im going to put in a blurb for the professional artists who live and work here in DC- why does our nation's National Gallery of Art not showcase and sell the original works of the residents of the Capitol city- as is done in other museums around the globe- in their museum shops? It is appalling - I was in the National Gallery this past weekend and I picked up a little metal American eagle bas-relief sculpture- and it was made in CHINA.

The excuse I have often heard is that it would somehow be "favoritism" by promoting DC over other parts of the USA.

THEN WHY ARE WE PROMOTING CHINESE PRODUCTS WHEN WE HAVE USA MADE ART OBJECTS THAT COULD BE SHOWCASED ????????!!!!!!

by w on Nov 20, 2009 4:54 pm • link • report

The report has a small photo of ice skating on the Lincoln reflecting pool - a better version is at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2008/12/ice_skating_in_washington.html - I think Save Our Mall once proposed bringing it back. It certainly would be a better location than Pershing Park. Though with this climate, I doubt we'd have more than a few days of ice - the pool would need mechanical help to stay frozen.

It also has a photo of boys playing with toy boats in the reflecting pool. It seems that locals once made better use of the Mall than they do now.

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 4:59 pm • link • report

my great grandparents took my dad and the cousins over to where the Jefferson Memorial is now- there was an amusement park at the site , from what I was told, until the late 1920's. My dad still recalls this. A lot of families took mini vacations on the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park prior to WW2.

Yes Michael- you are correct- the locals did make more use of the Mall and it's surroundings in the old days.

by w on Nov 20, 2009 5:07 pm • link • report

For another fun view of how the Mall was used in the past, see http://www.watergatenotes.net/pages/Sunset.html

From 1935 to 1965, crowds filled the watergate steps behind the Lincoln Memorial, to listen to concerts played by an orchestra on a barge! Airplane noise put an end to that.

The steps were intended as a ceremonial entrance - how awesome would it be to begin your visit to the Mall arriving
by boat at the steps (and then figuring out how to cross super-busy Ohio Drive).

by michael on Nov 20, 2009 5:30 pm • link • report

On behalf of the thousands of people every year who use the Mall grounds for recreational purposes, please don't take that away. There are drastically limited spaces for athletic activities, and the Mall is one of the few areas that we have available. It is run as both a first-come/first-serve and permit system.

It was definitely a space crunch when the Ellipse was not usable during the leveling/sodding period last year.

Light rail is really too much for that area, given that the bus system already runs throughout the Mall area. They need to do a better job of integrating all that the Mall has to offer, instead of having it all be independent. A lesson wisely learned for the federal government in general.

by ckstevenson on Nov 20, 2009 8:54 pm • link • report

On behalf of the thousands of people every year who use the Mall grounds for recreational purposes, please don't take that away.

word. pickup soccer on the mall. kickball. softball. doing nothing at all. i mean, what is DC without all that?

i think the mall is, generally speaking, an excellent place. it's fantastic. and it could be even better.

its one major drawback is streets that are horrifically wide -- leading to highways and speeding cars zooming all over the place. makes running and walking much more dangerous than they should be. narrow all the roads running through the area, add a a streetcar that circulates among the top 30 or so work and tourist destinations -- done -- world class city is one step closer. it'd probably be the most heavily used streetcar line in the system, and would be an incredible connector for other streetcar lines and Metro stations.

Light rail is really too much for that area

i was thinking more a 'Circulator Streetcar'. or the 'Connector Streetcar'.

DC used to have all sorts of streetcars. and people need to be able to get around -- those are some big, wide-open spaces down and around there -- that's great -- but let's give people a way to get around to the top 85% of destinations without having to jump on several different streetcar lines. if we plan for the continued disappearance of the private automobile, then adding a streetcar is a no-brainer -- in fact, the necessity of it becomes all too obvious.

by Peter Smith on Nov 20, 2009 9:15 pm • link • report

Those concerts took place in the early 1970's, that or my legal birthdate is wrong.

Also, there was a lot of skating and playing in and around the reflecting pool and C&O Canal back then. Now, the NPS won't let anyone do anything. It seems like we as a society could use the spontaneity that seemed to exist then.

by Andrew on Nov 20, 2009 11:47 pm • link • report

i'd love to see a streetcar circle the mall.
i'd like to see more refreshment option.
and more bathrooms.
and a bike rental/seqway rental would be great.

i love the mall and use it.
yes it can be better, but as kk asked, get rid of it? thats breaks my heart you even mention that.

by a on Nov 21, 2009 12:11 pm • link • report

Ditto about the folklife festival being in Summer. Its just such an oppressive place in summertime.

I personally hate the gravel. Replace with some sort of pervious paving

by spookiness on Nov 21, 2009 2:25 pm • link • report

Peter Smith - I agree on most points, but a dedicated mall track that does Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Visitor Center in a relatively straight line is too cost effective a beaten path to go off it for Union Station, the Verizon Center area, Arlington Cemetary, the Kennedy Center, the Jefferson Memorial, and other areas. Make one of these too complex and nobody will ride it. Several routes are fine, as long as they are all simple, 1-3 minute headway, and free. The other three-four routes intersecting with a Mall Track can offer opportunities to explore and enrich the rest of the city.

I'm really liking the idea of making Banneker Overlook into a pair of large 5-floor pavilions, the unprogrammed space that can accommodate seasonal festivals in the shade by the water and composes one of the major destinations of the Mall. On a related note, an eye-catching pedestrian bridge which incorporates East Potomac Park into the Mall through L'Enfant Promenade and Banneker Park is one of the things that might be included in these long-range plans.

by Squalish on Nov 21, 2009 3:52 pm • link • report

Typo *Banneker Overlook

by Squalish on Nov 21, 2009 3:53 pm • link • report

Here's a crazy idea: In stead of each taking care of "their" part of the Mall, why don't the NPS, Smithsonian and the DC government actually collaborate and manage the whole space together.

Unfortunately, that would be logical, and hence it will never happen.

by Jasper on Nov 21, 2009 9:48 pm • link • report

I'd love to see a small grove that you could rent for a small fee for weddings. Doing a wedding on the Mall is so difficult - there are only two spots and you can't reserve them or have more than 20 people show up (I think). Of course there is always the clando wedding. It doesn't have to be a be a big space, but it would be nice.

And I agree that more after work happy hours would be good. I always thought the Capitol Reflecting pool would be a good place for such a thing.

by David C on Nov 21, 2009 11:49 pm • link • report

A lot of these are good ideas, especially the temporary monuments and trying to combat the presidential-memorial sprawl. (C'mon, they already have their libraries plus the White House! But mainly I don't buy the Great Man theory and, like Washington, worry about turning our presidents into kings.)

If we're adding anything, it should be to better represent the diversity of American history and culture. (Quick, name a statue of a non-mythological woman on the Mall and nearby!) The MLK memorial, African American history museum, and (pending Senate approval) women's history museum will be a start.

And I'll second the comment about lighting. Walking around the Tidal Basin after dark (which in fall and winter is quite early) is downright spooky. You're lucky if you don't walk into one of the low-growing cherry blossom branches.

by Gavin Baker on Nov 22, 2009 11:21 am • link • report

as for "statue sprawl" I adamantly DISAGREE- the scultural monuments are not "sprawl" they are destinations and add great interest and a sense of belonging for Mall visitors- the Mall is actually quite empty- and has room for hundreds- if not THOUSANDS- of new sculptural memorials.

It puts artists to work- and it brings tourists and visitors.

Some people get over the backwards Protestant anti- art mentality please.

by w on Nov 23, 2009 10:13 am • link • report

W, just because it's not cluttered doesn't mean it's empty.

Leave room for the ma.

by Neil Flanagan on Nov 23, 2009 10:23 am • link • report

the Roman Forum reportedly had hundreds and hundreds of statues

the National Mall is our own version of the Roman Forum

by w on Nov 23, 2009 12:14 pm • link • report

The Mall does not exist for the purpose of artist welfare. There are other ways to put artists to work.

by David C on Nov 23, 2009 12:58 pm • link • report

Whatever the Romans may have done, their space is fundamentally different. The Forum was a collection of buildings with niches and pedestals largely integrated into the structure. The MallÂ’s space is much less built up, and it relies on relatively large buildings to connect the vast distances.

There may be room for some non-monumental sculpture gardens, like the Summer Garden, or the NGA and Hirschorn gardens, but you need empty space to clear your mind when reflecting on the significance of memorials.

by Neil Flanagan on Nov 23, 2009 1:53 pm • link • report

empty space in the core of a city means more and more suburban sprawl on the edges of the city

a ban would also encourage any new memorials to be built in the sprawl areas
we do not need this at all.

We have already lost the Childrens museum and the National Marine Corps museum to apathetic DC officials and possibly NIMBY opposition to intensification of uses.

I much prefer the Roman Forum model- as for peace and quiet- go out to Herndon Virginia, or Centreville for that matter.

by w on Nov 23, 2009 2:25 pm • link • report

"...suggest adding a statue of James Madison to the George Mason memorial near the Jefferson Memorial, to link the authors of the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence."

Madison didn't write the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson did. Madison was a major architect of the Constitution, which is why putting a statue of him with George Mason makes sense.

by Dave on Nov 23, 2009 3:25 pm • link • report

Jefferson was a proponent, but Madison wrote them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

by David C on Nov 23, 2009 3:32 pm • link • report

The National Memorial to James Madison, as dictated by Public Law, is the Madision Building of the Library of Congress. Right inside the main entrance is a beautiful statue of Madison and a stunning hall with walls inscribed with his quotes.

Unfortuneately, the only way to actually access Madison Hall is to essentially leave the building, which requires you to pass through security to get back into the rest of the building. Plus, even if you go through all that, chances are the hall will be used for the Library blood drive, of annual junk sale, or some other event that demeans the space and that should be held in a conference room somewhere.

by metronic on Nov 23, 2009 3:35 pm • link • report

Whoops, now I see. We're both confused. You could read that statement as "...suggest adding a statue of James Madison to the George Mason memorial near the Jefferson Memorial, to link the authors of the Bill of Rights [Madison and Mason] and the Declaration of Independence [Jefferson]"

by David C on Nov 23, 2009 3:37 pm • link • report

My 2 cents,

Redesign to get rid of the long straight exposed pathways. Replant to have more curved, meanduring paths like Central Park. You could preserve the wide open spaces, but give some interesting foot paths that wind by the statues.

think about someone making the journey from the Metro to the Washington Monument. Might as well make the journey there interesting instead of the Bataan Death March it is right now in August.

Oh, and allow model sail boats to be used in the reflecting pool!! Mine has been in the closet since I moved from NYC.

by beatbox on Nov 23, 2009 6:36 pm • link • report

Oh yeah, they already have the circulator running there during summer months.

by beatbox on Nov 23, 2009 6:38 pm • link • report

I just skimmed the report. How awesome would it be to ice skate on the reflecting pool?

by beatbox on Nov 23, 2009 6:41 pm • link • report

David C, you're right, I misread that. The sentence is definitely referring to the Jefferson Memorial when saying "the author of the Declaration".

by Dave on Nov 23, 2009 7:21 pm • link • report