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{{Short description|Traffic circle in Washington, D.C.}}
[[File:Washington Circle and tulips.JPG|thumb|175px|Washington Circle during [[Spring (season)|spring]]]]▼
{{Infobox park
'''Washington Circle''' is a [[traffic circle]] in the [[Northwest, Washington, D.C.|Northwest]] [[Quadrants of Washington, D.C.|quadrant]] of [[Washington, D.C.]], United States. It is located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, which is a part of the [[Wards of Washington, D.C.|Ward 2]] section in DC. It is the intersection of 23rd Street, [[K Street (Washington, D.C.)|K Street]], [[New Hampshire Avenue]], and [[Pennsylvania Avenue]], N.W., The through lanes of K Street (which are [[U.S. Route 29]]) travel underneath the circle in a tunnel, while the service lanes intersect the circle.<ref name=legacy>{{cite book | last=Bednar | first=Michael J. | title=L'Enfant's Legacy: Public Open Spaces in Washington | publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] | location=Baltimore | year=2006 | pages=185&ndash;192 | isbn=978-0-8018-8318-7 | accessdate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>▼
==Present| Dayname = Washington Circle==▼
| photo = Washington Circle and tulips.JPG
| photo_width = 200
▲[[File:Washington| Circlephoto_caption and tulips.JPG|thumb|175px|= Washington Circle during [[Spring (season)|spring]]]]
| map = United States Washington, D.C. central
| map_caption = Location within Washington, D.C.
| type = ▼
| location = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| coords = {{coord|38.9025|N|77.05|W|region:US-DC|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area =
| created =
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| status =
| open =
| publictransit = [[Foggy Bottom–GWU station]]
| website =
}}
▲'''Washington Circle''' is a [[traffic circle]] in the [[Northwest, Washington, D.C.|Northwestnorthwest]] [[Quadrants of Washington, D.C.|quadrant]] of [[Washington, D.C.]], United States. It is located inon the border of the [[Foggy Bottom]] and [[West End, Washington, D.C.|West End]] neighborhoodneighborhoods, which is a part of the [[Wards of Washington, D.C.|Ward 2]] section in DCWashington. It is the intersection of 23rd Street, [[K Street (Washington, D.C.)|K Street]], [[New Hampshire Avenue]], and [[Pennsylvania Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Pennsylvania Avenue]], N.W., It borders many buildings of the [[George Washington University]] campus. The through lanes of K Street (which are [[U.S. Route 29]]) travel underneath the circle in''via'' a tunnel, while the service lanes intersect the circle.<ref name=legacy>{{cite book | last=Bednar | first=Michael J. | title=L'Enfant's Legacy: Public Open Spaces in Washington | publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] | location=Baltimore | year=2006 | pages=185&ndash;192 | isbn=978-0-8018-8318-7 | accessdate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>{{rp|185&ndash;192}}
 
==History==
== History of the Circle and its Surrounding early to mid 18th Century==
{{See also|History of Washington, D.C.|List of circles in Washington, D.C.| Lieutenant General George Washington}}▼
[[File:Southwest corner - Washington Circle.JPG|thumb|175px|Washington Circle's park]]
 
===Early- to mid-19th century===
Washington Circle was first drawn on Pierre L’Enfant’s map in 1791 (Washington Circle, as well as the majority of the map, is unlabeled in L’Enfant’s original plan). Looking at L’Enfant’s Map, one can see that streets were laid in form of grids and there were many intersections around the circle In addition to the street grids, there are a couple of other circles beside the circle. These features indicate the strategic positioning of the circle within the city. The circle intersects four major roads. On the northeastern side of the circle there’s a vista along New Hampshire Avenue that leads to DuPont Circle while on the southeastern side, there is another pleasant vista from Pennsylvania avenue that leads to the White house.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Draft of Washington Circle Reservation 26, 1890|journal=Historic American Building Survey|year=1890|volume=HABS NO, DC-688|accessdate=02/07/2012}}</ref> . The circle also intersects 23rd and K streets.▼
▲{{See also|History of Washington, D.C.|List of circles in Washington, D.C.| Lieutenant General George Washington}}
In 1850, Washington Circle and its surroundings were gradually developing. Looking at the 1850 map of Washington circle, one can see that both New Hampshire Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue were more pronounced on the map than they were in L’Enfant’s map<ref>{{cite web|work=Map of Washington 1850|publisher=Retrieved from the Washingtonian Collection of TheMartin Luther King Library|accessdate=02/05/2013}}</ref> . This shows that the two avenues were well paved in 1850. Although the avenues were developing, 23RD and K Streets were yet to be properly developed. Also the Washington Circle, itself, was very bland during this period, it had not been beautified and was known as a dangerous part of the city 6. The 1851 map<ref>{{cite web|title=Map of Washington 1951|publisher=Washingtonian Collection from The Martin Luther King Library}}</ref> shows that K Street, known as the area’s broadest thoroughfare also became paved . The map also illustrates the development of the circle’s surrounding with over thirty-three buildings between the New Hampshire and Pennsylvania intersection*. Carefully observing the 1852<ref>{{cite web|work=The Map of Washington 1852|publisher=Washingtonian Collection from The Martin Luther King Library}}</ref> map, one can infer that not much had changed from the previous year’s map . The growth of Washington circle was indeed a very slow one and this may be, because of the unwillingness of the congress to back up the development of the city.▼
▲Washington Circle was first drawn on [[Pierre L’Enfant’sL’Enfant]]’s map in 1791 (Washington Circle, as well as the majority of the map, is unlabeledunlabelled in L’Enfant’sL’Enfant's original plan). Looking at L’Enfant’sL’Enfant's Map, one can see that streets were laid in form of grids and there were many intersections around the circle . In addition to the street grids, there are a couple of other circles beside the circle. These features indicate the strategic positioning of the circle within the city. The circle intersects four major roads. On the northeastern side of the circle there’sthere's a vista along New Hampshire Avenue that leads to DuPont Circle while on the southeastern side, there is another pleasant vista from Pennsylvania avenue that leads to the White house.<ref>{{cite journalweb |titleurl=Draft ofhttps://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/dc/dc0700/dc0797/data/dc0797data.pdf |title=Washington Circle (Reservation Number 26,) 1890|journallast=Barthold |first=Elizabeth |date=1993 |website=[[Historic American BuildingBuildings Survey]] |yearpublisher=1890|volume=HABSLibrary NO,of Congress DC-688|accessdatelocation=02/07/2012Washington, D.C.}}</ref> . The circle also intersects 23rd and K streets.
 
▲In 1850, Washington Circle and its surroundings were gradually developing. Looking at the 1850 map of Washington circleCircle, one can see that both New Hampshire Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue were more pronounced on the map than they were in L’Enfant’sL’Enfant's map.<ref>{{cite webnews |worktitle=Map of Washington 1850 |publisher=Retrieved from the Washingtonian Collection of TheMartinThe Martin Luther King Library|accessdate=02/05/2013}}</ref> . This shows that the two avenues were well paved in 1850. Although the avenues were developing, 23RD and K Streets were yet to be properly developed. Also the Washington Circle, itself, was very bland during this period, it had not been beautified and was known as a dangerous part of the city 6. The 1851 map<ref>{{cite webnews |title=Map of Washington 1951 |publisher=Washingtonian Collection from The Martin Luther King Library}}</ref> shows that K Street, known as the area’sarea's broadest thoroughfare also became paved . The map also illustrates the development of the circle’scircle's surrounding with over thirty-three buildings between the New Hampshire and Pennsylvania intersection*. Carefully observing the 1852<ref>{{cite webnews |worktitle=The Map of Washington 1852 |publisher=Washingtonian Collection from The Martin Luther King Library}}</ref> map, one can infer that not much had changed from the previous year’syear's map . The growth of Washington circleCircle was indeed a very slow one and this may be, because of the unwillingness of the congress to back up the development of the city.
==Sculpture of George Washington==▼
 
===Civil War era===
A bronze equestrian statue, sculpted by [[Clark Mills (sculptor)|Clark Mills]] and depicting [[George Washington]] riding his horse during the [[Battle of Princeton]], was installed in the center of the circle on February 22, 1860. The Continental Congress voted to build the statue in George Washington’s honor in 1783 but the statue was not commissioned until 1853 at a total cost of $60,000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Goode|first=James|title=Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation’s Capital|year=2008|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore|page=480}}</ref> Mills depicted General Washington in the heroic, idealized Romantic style, reminiscent of [[Jacques-Louis David|Jacques-Louis David's]] painting ''[[Napoleon Crossing the Alps]]''. Washington's horse was modeled on a wild horse that was captured on the plains of Kansas.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Keck|first=Andrew S.|journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C.|year=1971/1972|volume=71/72|pages=300-303|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/40067778|accessdate=23 March 2013}}</ref> The [[National Park Service]] now maintains Washington Circle's park, the public space surrounding Washington's statue.<ref name=legacy/><ref name=dclandmark/><ref name=nps>{{cite web | url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/nace/adhia4.htm | title=Statues, Monuments, and Memorials in National Capital Parks | date=July 31, 2003 | work=[[National Park Service]] | publisher=(nps.gov) | accessdate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>▼
The [[American Civil warWar]] was fought from 1861 to 1865 and Washington circleCircle was an instrumental location for the [[Union armyArmy]] during the war.<ref name=legacy/>{{cite bookrp|last=Bednar|first=Micheal|title=L’Enfant’s Legacy164&ndash; Public Open Spaces In Washington, D.C|year=2006|publisher=John Hopkins University Press|pages=164-186}}</ref> . ▼
In 1862, [[Streetcars in Washington, D.C.|streetcars]] tracks were laid around Washington Circle, but were not properly maintained during the turbulent years of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].In 1862, streetcars tracks were laid around Washington Circle, but were not properly maintained during the turbulent years of the Civil War. Track improvements were made during the 1870s and the park was redesigned in 1885. These tracks were used to transport war weapons and machineries for war efforts. Also the south of the circle along 23rd street was used as uniona Union army encampment, named campCamp fry 13Fry. Camp fryFry served as a camp for wounded soldiers to recuperate.<ref>{{cite book |title=Foot note from Washington Circle and Camp Fry, 1863, |location=Box 7 folder 22, Special Collection Center, Gellman Library, George Washington University}}</ref> . After the civil war, the camp was dismantled. To the right, a picture from 1863 shows the bird-eye view of the circle and camp fry, one can see an example of the yellow streetcar used during period. St. Paul’sPaul's Episcopal church, popularly known as Old St. Paul’sPaul's Church was built in 1866 and was the first church built around the circle at the corner of 23rd street. With the influx of the African American population after the civil war, the church was built to act as a form of missionary to the people.<ref>{{cite web |titleauthor=St. Paul Parish |url=http://www.stpauls-kst.com/about-us/history |worktitle=St paul's Parish History}}</ref> . St. Ann’sAnn's Infant Asylum was also present during the 1860’s1860s and it occupied the building that the British Legation once occupied. ▼
 
===Present day===
==Washington Circle, and the American Civil War==
[[File:FIGSouthwest 20.corner Camp- FryWashington view 1863Circle.jpgJPG|thumbnailthumb|Bird Eye View of The Washington Circle's showing Camp Frypark]]
In the 1892 map of Washington circleCircle, one can see the detailed structure of buildings present then. MajorityThe majority of the buildings present during this period were built with stone . Between New Hampshire Avenue and K streetsStreet, most of the buildings were built with bricksbrick. There were very few green houses and most buildings served as stables or sheds 21. The neighborhood around Washington circleCircle changed during the 20th century with the relocation of the George Washington University to the Foggy Bottom Campuscampus. Foggy Bottom (including the area surrounding Washington Circle) was meant to be a residential area. With the new presence of the George Washington University which was brought on during the twentieth century, the area became much more institutionalized as seen through the [[George Washington University Hospital]], located on the southeast end of the park.▼
 
== Neighborhood ==▼
▲The American Civil war was fought from 1861 to 1865 and Washington circle was an instrumental location for the Union army during the war<ref>{{cite book|last=Bednar|first=Micheal|title=L’Enfant’s Legacy; Public Open Spaces In Washington, D.C|year=2006|publisher=John Hopkins University Press|pages=164-186}}</ref> .
The Foggy Bottom campus of [[The George Washington University]] (GWU) adjoins Washington Circle. After construction is completed, GWU's [[Square 54 Redevelopment|Square 54]] complex will beis located directly south of the circle, near The George Washington University Hospital. The closest [[Washington Metro]] station is [[Foggy Bottom–GWU (Washington Metro)|Foggy Bottom–GWU]].<ref name=pearlstein>{{cite news | url=httphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081102018.html | title=Square 54, a New Site for an Ongoing Feud | last=Pearlstein | first=Steven | authorlinkauthor-link=Steven Pearlstein | date=August 12, 2005 | worknewspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | publisher=washingtonpost.com | pages=D01 | accessdateaccess-date=November 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=square>{{cite news | url=http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/02/04/daily58.html | title=Boston Properties signs lease for old George Washington University Hospital | last=Castro | first=Melissa | date=February 8, 2008 | work=[[American City Business Journals|Washington Business Journal]] | publisher=washington.bizjournals.com | accessdateaccess-date=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>▼
▲In 1862, [[Streetcars in Washington, D.C.|streetcars]] tracks were laid around Washington Circle, but were not properly maintained during the turbulent years of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].In 1862, streetcars tracks were laid around Washington Circle, but were not properly maintained during the turbulent years of the Civil War. Track improvements were made during the 1870s and the park was redesigned in 1885. These tracks were used to transport war weapons and machineries for war efforts. Also the south of the circle along 23rd street was used as union army encampment, named camp fry 13. Camp fry served as a camp for wounded soldiers to recuperate<ref>{{cite book|title=Foot note from Washington Circle and Camp Fry, 1863,|location=Box 7 folder 22, Special Collection Center, Gellman Library, George Washington University}}</ref> . After the civil war, the camp was dismantled. To the right, a picture from 1863 shows the bird-eye view of the circle and camp fry, one can see an example of the yellow streetcar used during period. St. Paul’s Episcopal church, popularly known as Old St. Paul’s Church was built in 1866 and was the first church built around the circle at the corner of 23rd street. With the influx of the African American population after the civil war, the church was built to act as a form of missionary to the people<ref>{{cite web|title=St.Paul Parish|url=http://www.stpauls-kst.com/about-us/history|work=St paul's Parish History}}</ref> . St. Ann’s Infant Asylum was also present during the 1860’s and it occupied the building that the British Legation once occupied.
▲
▲== Neighborhood ==
▲The Foggy Bottom campus of [[The George Washington University]] (GWU) adjoins Washington Circle. After construction is completed, GWU's [[Square 54 Redevelopment|Square 54]] complex will be located directly south of the circle, near The George Washington University Hospital. The closest [[Washington Metro]] station is [[Foggy Bottom–GWU (Washington Metro)|Foggy Bottom–GWU]].<ref name=pearlstein>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081102018.html | title=Square 54, a New Site for an Ongoing Feud | last=Pearlstein | first=Steven | authorlink=Steven Pearlstein | date=August 12, 2005 | work=[[The Washington Post]] | publisher=washingtonpost.com | pages=D01 | accessdate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=square>{{cite news | url=http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/02/04/daily58.html | title=Boston Properties signs lease for old George Washington University Hospital | last=Castro | first=Melissa | date=February 8, 2008 | work=[[American City Business Journals|Washington Business Journal]] | publisher=washington.bizjournals.com | accessdate=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>
 
▲==Sculpture of George Washington==
▲==Present Day Washington Circle==
[[File:Map of USA-Washington DCCircle 1892Park.jpgJPG|thumbnailthumb|A map showing the typesSculpture of buildings aroundGeorge Washington circle during the Lateby 19thClark centuryMills]]
{{Main|Equestrian statue of George Washington (Washington Circle)}}
▲In the 1892 map of Washington circle, one can see the detailed structure of buildings present then. Majority of the buildings present during this period were built with stone . Between New Hampshire Avenue and K streets, most of the buildings were built with bricks. There were very few green houses and most buildings served as stables or sheds 21. The neighborhood around Washington circle changed during the 20th century with the relocation of the George Washington University to the Foggy Bottom Campus. Foggy Bottom (including the area surrounding Washington Circle) was meant to be a residential area. With the new presence of the George Washington University which was brought on during the twentieth century, the area became much more institutionalized as seen through the George Washington University Hospital, located on the southeast end of the park.
 
▲A bronze equestrian statue, sculpted by [[Clark Mills (sculptor)|Clark Mills]] and depicting [[George Washington]] riding his horse during the [[Battle of Princeton]], was installed in the center of the circle on February 22, 1860. The Continental Congress voted to build the statue in George Washington’sWashington's honor in 1783 but the statue was not commissioned until 1853 at a total cost of $60,000.<ref>{{cite book |last=Goode |first=James |title=Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation’sNation's Capital |year=2008 |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |location=Baltimore |page=480}}</ref> Mills depicted General Washington in the heroic, idealized Romantic style, reminiscent of [[Jacques-Louis David|Jacques-Louis David's]] painting ''[[Napoleon Crossing the Alps]]''. Washington's horse was modeled on a wild horse that was captured on the plains of Kansas.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Keck |first=Andrew S. |title=A Toast to the Union: Clark Mills' Equestrian Statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square |journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. |yeardate=1971/19721971–1972 |volume=71/7271–72 |pages=300-303300–303 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/40067778|accessdate=23 March 201340067778}}</ref> The [[National Park Service]] now maintains Washington Circle's park, the public space surrounding Washington's statue.<ref name=legacy/><ref name=dclandmark>{{cite web |url=https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/Inventory%202009%200%20Alpha%20Version%2003%2011.pdf |title=District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites |date=September 30, 2009 |author=District of Columbia, Office of Planning, State Historic Preservation Office |website=[[Government of the District of Columbia|planning.dc.gov]]}}</ref><ref name=nps>{{cite web | url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/nace/adhia4.htm | title=Statues, Monuments, and Memorials in National Capital Parks | date=July 31, 2003 | workauthor=[[National Park Service]] |author-link=National publisherPark Service |website=(nps.gov) | accessdateaccess-date=November 29, 2009 }}</ref>
It is astonishing to discover that most of the features found in the circle during the mid 19th century are still present. Looking at a picture taken a week back, the sculpture of George Washington still boldly stands at the center of the park. The two triangular floor beds are still opposite the circle. Another astonishing discovery is the fact some buildings on K street are made from red bricks and may have been the ones present in the ninth century.
[[File:Washington-20130204-00079-1.jpg|thumbnail|picture of present day Washington Circle]]
 
== References ==
{{reflistReflist}}
 
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Washington Circle}}
* [http://www.anc2a.org/ ANC 2A], Washington Circle's [[Advisory Neighborhood Commission]]
*{{HABS |survey=DC-688 |id=dc0797 |title=Washington Circle |photos=7 |data=16 |cap=1}}
 
{{Streets in Washington, DC}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|38.9025|-77.05|display=title|region:US-DC_type:landmark}}
 
[[Category:1856 establishments in theWashington, United StatesD.C.]]
[[Category:Foggy Bottom]]
[[Category:GeorgeHistoric American Buildings Survey in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Parks in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Squares, plazas, and circles in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Streets in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Tunnels in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:George Washington University]]
[[Category:Road tunnels in the United States]]
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