Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

96  W ASHINGT ON , DC AREA B Y AREA

inscribed on the four sides of
the statue’s pedestal in tribute
to this talented man. Postmaster
general, writer, and scientist,
Benjamin Franklin was also a key
member of the com mit tee that
drafted the 1776 Declaration of
Independence. As a diplomat to
the court of Louis XVI of France,
he went to Versailles in 1777 to
gain support for the American
cause of independence from
Britain. Franklin returned to
France in 1783 to negotiate the
Treaty of Paris that ended the
American Revolution (see p20).
9 Freedom Plaza
Pennsylvania Ave between 13th St &
14th St, NW. Map 3 B3. q Federal
Facade of the Old Post Office Triangle, Metro Center.
7 Old Post Office reason to keep the architectural Freedom Plaza was conceived
relic. Only a lack of funds during as part of a Pennsylvania
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. Map 3
C3. Tel (202) 219-1103. q Federal the Great Depression of the Avenue redevelopment plan
Triangle. Open call for opening times. 1930s (see p25) prevented in the mid-1970s. Designed
Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. the Old Post Office from by Robert Venturi and Denise
8 7 - = ∑ nps.gov.opot being torn down. Scott Brown, and completed
The building was occupied in 1980, the plaza displays
Built in 1899, the Old Post intermittently by various Pierre L’Enfant’s original plan for
Office was Washington’s first govern ment agencies until Washington in black and white
skyscraper. Soaring 12 stories the mid-1960s, when its stone embedded in the ground.
above the city, it was a fireproof decrepit condition again drew Around the edge are engraved
model of modern engineering a chorus in favor of demolition. quotations about the new
with a steel frame covered in A Washington preservation city from Walt Whitman and
granite. The huge interior had group, Don’t Tear It Down, President Wilson, among others.
3,900 electric lights and its promoted the historical signi- Freedom Plaza provides a
own generator, the first one ficance of the Old Post Office, dramatic entry to Pennsylvania
to be used in the city. Its fanciful and it was spared once more. Avenue (see pp94–5). On the
Romanesque architecture was The renovated building north side of the plaza, where
fashionable at the time it was housed a complex of shops
built, and the breath taking and restau rants, commonly
hall, with its glass roof and known as the Old Post Office
balconies, remains a spectac- Pavilion, until its purchase in
ular mixture of light, color, 2013 by Donald Trump, who
and gleaming metal. renovated the area once again.
In the 15 years following The building reopened in
its construction, the Post late 2016.
Office became an object of
controversy. Its turrets and 8 Benjamin
arches, once praised by critics,
were derided. The New York Franklin Statue
Times newspaper said the Pennsylvania Ave & 10th St, NW.
building looked like “a cross Map 3 C3. q Federal Triangle.
between a cathedral and a
cotton mill.” Government Standing in front of the Old Post
planners thought the Post Office, this statue was donated
Office building clashed with by publisher Stilson Hutchins
the Neo-Classical architecture (1839–1912), and was unveiled
that dominated the rest of by Benjamin Franklin’s great-
Washington. When the postal granddaughter in 1889. The
system moved its offices in words “Printer, Philosopher, The large-scale reproduction of L’Enfant’s
1934, there seemed to be no Patriot, Philanthropist” are city plans, Freedom Plaza

096-097_EW_Washington.indd 96 04/04/17 2:39 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm