National Park Service - National Mall & Memorial Parks
Cause Area
- Arts & Culture
- Community
- Environment
- Politics
- Sports & Recreation
Location
750 Buckeye DrWashington, DC 20024 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
The National Park Service Preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. The park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world .
Description
The Washington that you see today had its birth two centuries ago in a rational yet visionary design unprecedented in its scale. Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plan for the city and its core mall area was influenced by urban planning then current in Euproe and neoclassical landscape design exemplified by Versalles. Brilliantly adapting those ideas to Washington's terrain, L'Enfant placed the Capitol on Jenkins Hill and the "Presidents House" on a lower terrace then overlooking the Potomac River. Between them ran Pennsylvania Avenue, to symbolize the spearate but connected branches of government. The spirit of that plan lives in the city still.