The National Mall, ringed by imposing museums and grand government office buildings, is the most prominent and well known part of Washington, D.C. Millions of visitors come to D.C. to explore the central core of our city and all of the sightseeing attractions that it offers. In doing so, however, they often miss the rest of the city. Indeed, the Mall is, for many, the only part of the nation’s capital that matters or exists. For the residents on the other hand, the Mall is not only not the defining aspect of D.C., but often viewed as a nuisance and a place we rarely go.
This assignment asks you to write about the historical evolution of the mall, the intentions of the Mall’s creators, and the way both visitors and residents view it. More specifically, you will need to discuss the plans to develop the Mall (the City Beautiful Movement and the McMillan Plan) and what the creators/planners hoped to achieve with their designs. You will then need to discuss what you think most visitors come away with when they visit the Mall, as well as what you think about it and how you view it as part of DC.