Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site

It’s the most famous address in America. Everyone knows who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

But few realize the White House is just one of the interesting things to see along this scenic and historic street.

Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site takes you down “America’s Main Street” from the U.S. Capitol Building at the eastern end, to the residence of presidents 1.5 miles away.

Laid out by Pierre L’Enfant, the architect of the nation’s capital, Pennsylvania Avenue was intended to symbolically and literally separate and connect the executive and legislative branches of government.

This is the parade route on inauguration day. This is where citizens gather to celebrate victories and redress their government.

Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site encompasses several notable points of interest. The U.S. Navy Memorial, Freedom Plaza, the Old Post Office, and Pershing Park lie along its path.

Visitors to the nation’s capital can find history, refreshment, entertainment, and scenic views along this wide avenue.

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State:

District of Columbia

Acreage:

20.6

Category:

National Historic Site

Established:

09/30/1965

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

North Alfred

March 14, 2013

Why is Washington's oldest theatre built in 1835 - The National Theatre - not inlcuded as a historic site in this district. The first American playwright produced in the theatre was George Washington Parke Custis - builder of Arlington House and grandson of Martha Washington, and his son-in-law Robert E Lee was an original stockholdr along with many other famous public figures. The theatre has been in continous operation for over 178 years and served as the world prenmiere site of many Broadway musicals includeing Show Boast, West Side Story, and in October of 2013 it wil again host a world premiere of a new musical from the creators of Wicked called "If/Then" starring Tony Award winner Idina Menzel. It was also the site of a successful civil rights protest when the private oeners of the theatre refuised to allow African Americans into the theatre in the 1940s. Actors Equity protested and the theatre was shut down and made into a movie house for a short period before the owners relented and Actor's Equity lifted its ban. It reoprned with the Irving Berlin Musical Call Me Madam starring Ethel Merman. This street isn't all bout Government, and it is odd that the Warner Theatre is listed as a historic site - which has beautiful architecture but little history - and the NPS says nothing about the Natioanl, whihc still has the remnants of its original 1835 foundation visible under the theatre stage. We need to fix this and get this historic theatre recognized by the NPS.

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