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47-449: The first structures to be built at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW were six small houses constructed by Colonel John Tayloe III , of The Octagon House , DC , and Mount Airy , Virginia , in 1816. Tayloe leased the six buildings to Joshua Tennison, who named them Tennison's Hotel. The structures served as a hotel for the next three decades, the leaseholder and name changing several times: Williamson's Mansion Hotel, Fullers American House, and

94-626: A "D.C. Great Street". The city spent $ 430 million to beautify the street and improve the roadway. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , businesses along Pennsylvania Avenue faced significant challenges and closures. With reduced tourism, remote work trends keeping office buildings quieter, and a historical lack of the avenue itself being a primary destination, many establishments struggled to sustain operations. The combination of decreased foot traffic and shifting consumer behavior further strained local businesses, leading to closures as they struggled to adapt to

141-603: A background for more lighthearted celebrations, including a series of Shriner 's parades in the 1920s and 1930s. Thomas and Concepcion Picciotto are the founders of the White House Peace Vigil , the longest-running anti-nuclear peace vigil in the nation at Lafayette Square on the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Secret Service closed

188-587: A more inclusive and equitable space. This vision includes accommodating a variety of activities and users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles, and delivery trucks, alongside hosting events and fostering community engagement. To achieve this transformation, the initiative involves collaborative efforts between NCPC and consulting teams like HR&A Advisors. They are tasked with updating traffic studies to explore reallocating roadway space for new sidewalks, bike lanes, transit-only lanes, mid-block crossings, and other streetscape elements. Additionally,

235-630: A recent outbreak of scarlet fever in the White House. Six sitting vice-presidents have lived in the Willard. Millard Fillmore and Thomas A. Hendricks , during his brief time in office, lived in the old Willard; and then four successive vice-presidents, James S. Sherman , Thomas R. Marshall , Calvin Coolidge and finally Charles Dawes all lived in the current building for at least part of their vice-presidency. Fillmore and Coolidge continued in

282-696: A semi-public receivership and was sold to the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation . They held a competition to rehabilitate the property and ultimately awarded it to the Oliver Carr Company and Golding Associates. The two partners then brought in the InterContinental Hotels Group to be a part owner and operator of the hotel. The Willard was subsequently restored to its turn-of-the-century elegance and an office-building wing

329-673: Is the location of official parades and processions, and periodic protest marches. Pennsylvania Avenue is an important commuter road and is part of the National Highway System . The avenue runs for 5.8 miles (9.3 km) in Washington, D.C. , but the 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the United States Capitol building is far and away the most famed section of

376-659: The 1968 Washington, D.C., riots in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1972, Congress created the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (PADC) to rehabilitate the street between the Capitol and the White House, an area seen as blighted. The new organization was given the mandate of developing Pennsylvania Avenue "in a manner suitable to its ceremonial, physical, and historic relationship to

423-530: The National Capital Planning Commission invited several prominent landscape architects to submit proposals for the redesign of Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House, with the intention that the security measures would be woven into an overall plan for the precinct and a more welcoming public space might be created. The winning entry by a firm run by Michael Van Valkenburgh proposed a very simple approach to planting, paving, and

470-552: The Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge over Rock Creek . From 1862 to 1962, streetcars ran the length of the avenue from Georgetown to the Anacostia River . Although Pennsylvania Avenue extends six miles (10 km) in Washington, D.C. , the expanse between the White House and the United States Capitol constitutes the ceremonial heart of the nation. It was designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant , and

517-645: The Reserve Officers Association (ROA) as an organization. In 1935 the hotel was used as a place of confinement for William P. MacCracken Jr. , Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, after he was convicted of contempt of Congress in the Air Mail scandal . According to The Washington Post , "Chesley Jurney, the Senate sargeant at arms , had no place to hold MacCracken who, after being sentenced, showed up at Jurney's house and stayed

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564-812: The State Department ." From February 4 to February 27, 1861, the Peace Congress , featuring delegates from 21 of the 34 states, met at the Willard in a last-ditch attempt to avert the Civil War . A plaque from the Virginia Civil War Commission, located on the Pennsylvania Ave. side of the hotel, commemorates this courageous effort. Later that year, upon hearing a Union regiment singing " John Brown's Body " as they marched beneath her window, Julia Ward Howe wrote

611-609: The United States Navy Memorial , Old Post Office Tower , and Pershing Park . After the Great Depression in the 1930s and the move of affluent families to suburbs in the 1950s, Pennsylvania Avenue became increasingly blighted. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson tried to redevelop the street as part of the New Frontier and Great Society reforms, but the avenue further declined after

658-661: The Capitol, it enters Prince George's County, Maryland , and becomes MD Route 4 (MD 4) and then MD Route 717 in Upper Marlboro , and finally Stephanie Roper Highway. The section of the avenue between the White House, which is sometimes referred to by its address "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue", and the Capitol forms the basis for the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site and is sometimes referred to as "America's Main Street"; it

705-730: The City Hotel. By 1847, the structures were in disrepair and Tayloe's son, Benjamin Ogle Tayloe (of the Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House ), was desperate to find a tenant who would maintain the structures and run them profitably. The current hotel was founded by Henry Willard, a former chief steward on the steamer "Niagara" on the Hudson River, personally suggested by “Ogle” Tayloe's second wife, Miss Phoebe Warren, formerly of Troy, New York, in 1847; when he leased

752-542: The New Pennsylvania Avenue Plan that will address design and infrastructure improvements along the corridor and adjoining public spaces. Ever since an impromptu procession formed around Jefferson's second inauguration , every U.S. president except Ronald Reagan in his second inauguration in January 1985 has paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue after taking the oath of office . Reagan paraded up

799-586: The U.S. Capitol to demand federal aid for the unemployed. Similarly, on the eve of Woodrow Wilson 's 1913 inauguration , Alice Paul masterminded a parade, the Woman Suffrage Procession , highlighting the women's suffrage movement . In July 1932, a contingent of the Bonus Expeditionary Force carried flags up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where they formed picket lines. Pennsylvania Avenue also has served as

846-603: The White House and the Capitol. The construction of an expansion to the Treasury Building blocked this view, and supposedly President Andrew Jackson did this on purpose. Relations between the president and Congress were strained, and Jackson did not want to see the Capitol out his window, though in reality the Treasury Building was simply built on what was cheap government land. In 1876, as part of an initiative begun by President Ulysses S. Grant to see

893-489: The Willard in 1963, in the days leading up to his August 28 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom . Among the Willard's many other famous guests are P. T. Barnum , Mark Twain , Walt Whitman , General Tom Thumb , Samuel Morse , the Duke of Windsor , Harry Houdini , Gypsy Rose Lee , Gloria Swanson , Emily Dickinson , Jenny Lind , Charles Dickens , Bert Bell , Joe Paterno , and Jim Sweeney . Steven Spielberg shot

940-545: The Willard to unite as the Chi Phi Fraternity . Many United States presidents have frequented the Willard, and every president since Franklin Pierce has either slept in or attended an event at the hotel at least once; the hotel hence is also known as "the residence of presidents." Ulysses S. Grant first stayed there as a lieutenant in 1852. It was his habit to drink whiskey and smoke a cigar while relaxing in

987-606: The Willard, even after becoming president, to allow the first family time to move out of the White House. The first recorded meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research was convened at the Willard on May 7, 1907. Plans for Woodrow Wilson 's League of Nations took shape when he held meetings of the League to Enforce Peace in the hotel's lobby in 1916. A fire broke out in April 1922 while Calvin Coolidge

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1034-520: The annual Gridiron Dinner . The Willard family sold its share of the hotel in 1946, and due to mismanagement and the severe decline of the area, the hotel closed without a prior announcement on July 16, 1968. The building sat vacant for years, and numerous plans were floated for its demolition. In 1975, the National American Indian Council announced it had purchased the building for its headquarters. It eventually fell into

1081-612: The avenue for his first inauguration in January 1981 but not following his second inauguration in 1985 because freezing temperatures and high winds made it dangerous. From William Henry Harrison to Gerald Ford , the funeral corteges of seven of the eight presidents who died in office and two former presidents followed this route. Franklin Roosevelt was the only president who died in office whose cortege did not follow this route. Abraham Lincoln 's funeral cortege solemnly proceeded along Pennsylvania Avenue in 1865; only weeks later,

1128-663: The avenue. It continues within the city for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), from the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds through the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and over the Anacostia River on the John Philip Sousa Bridge . Crossing most of Prince George's County, Maryland , it ends 9.5 miles (15.3 km) from the Washington, D.C. border in Maryland at the junction with MD 717 in Upper Marlboro , where

1175-402: The capital from Philadelphia in 1800 and in recognition of Pennsylvania's historical significance in the nation's founding. Both Jefferson and Washington considered Pennsylvania Avenue an important feature of the new capital. The stretch outside the White House was established in 1804 when President Jefferson ordered the road to be cut through President's Park. For decades, Pennsylvania Avenue

1222-505: The city's streets improved, Pennsylvania Avenue was paved with asphalt by Civil War veteran William Averell using Trinidad and Guanoco lakes asphalt . In 1959, Pennsylvania Avenue was extended from the Washington, D.C. border with Maryland to Dower House Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland . On September 30, 1965, portions of the avenue and surrounding area were designated the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site . The National Park Service administers this area which includes

1269-601: The days leading up to the 2021 January 6 United States Capitol attack , a series of rooms and suites in the hotel functioned as an informal command center headed by Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudolph Giuliani for a White House plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election . Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed in the hotel during his 2023 visit. The AAA gave the hotel four diamonds out of five in 1986. The hotel has maintained that rating every year, and received four diamonds again for 2016. Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Guide) declined to give

1316-725: The end of the American Civil War was celebrated with the Grand Review of the Armies when the Army of the Potomac paraded more joyously along the avenue. The funeral processions of both Lyndon B. Johnson and Ford funeral corteges proceeded down Pennsylvania Avenue. For Lyndon Johnson, the cortege was along Pennsylvania Avenue from U.S. Capitol to National City Christian Church , where he often worshiped and where his funeral

1363-535: The finale of his film Minority Report at the hotel in the summer of 2001. He filmed with Tom Cruise and Max von Sydow in the Willard Room, Peacock Alley and the kitchen. A replica of the terraced roof of the office building was constructed on a soundstage for the final scene. On February 22, 2012, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd gave a dramatic resignation speech in the hotel's Douglas Room. In

1410-495: The hotel either four or five stars in 2016, but did add it to its list of "recommended" properties. In July 2024, Americas Great Resorts added the hotel to its Top Picks as a landmark property. Pennsylvania Avenue (Washington, D.C.) Pennsylvania Avenue is a primarily diagonal street in Washington, D.C. that connects the United States Capitol with the White House and then crosses northwest Washington, D.C. to Georgetown . Traveling through southeast Washington from

1457-423: The initiative prioritizes refining early design concepts into preferred alternatives based on economic feasibility, stakeholder input, and environmental considerations. Ultimately, the goal is to elevate Pennsylvania Avenue's status as a premier public space in Washington, DC, comparable to other renowned urban boulevards around the world. In 2024, NCPC is expected to announce a second consultant team to help develop

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1504-471: The integration of required security steps. Construction was completed in 2004. From east to west: The National Theatre and Warner Theatre use Pennsylvania Avenue mailing addresses, although the theaters are nearby on E Street and 13th Street respectively. The following Metrobus routes travel along the street (listed from west to east): The DC Circulator travels along the street: The following MTA Maryland Commuter Bus routes travel along

1551-638: The legislative and executive branches of the federal government ". In the 1980s, renovations were made to the Willard Hotel , the Old Post Office , and Washington Union Station , each located on or adjacent to Pennsylvania Avenue. In 2010, the District of Columbia designated Pennsylvania Avenue from the southwestern terminus of John Philip Sousa Bridge to the Maryland state line to be

1598-407: The lobby. Folklore (promoted by the hotel) holds that this is the origin of the term " lobbying ," as Grant was often approached by those seeking favors. However, this is probably false, as Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary dates the verb "to lobby" to 1837. Grover Cleveland lived there at the beginning of his second term in 1893, because of concern for his infant daughter's health following

1645-594: The lyrics to " The Battle Hymn of the Republic " while staying at the hotel in November 1861. On February 23, 1861, amid several assassination threats, detective Allan Pinkerton smuggled Abraham Lincoln into the Willard; there Lincoln lived until his inauguration on March 4, holding meetings in the lobby and carrying on business from his room. On March 27, 1874, the Northern and Southern Orders of Chi Phi met at

1692-463: The name changes to Stephanie Roper Highway, for a total length of 15.3 miles (24.6 km). Stephanie Roper Highway used to be Pennsylvania Avenue, but was renamed in 2012. In addition to its street names , in Maryland it is designated as Maryland Route 4 . Northwest of the White House, Pennsylvania Avenue runs for 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to its end at M Street N.W. in Georgetown , just beyond

1739-596: The new economic realities. In 2022, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) launched the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative to revitalize the iconic thoroughfare by transforming it into a dynamic public space and transportation corridor. Accelerated by the changes brought about by remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative aims to re-imagine Pennsylvania Avenue from its current eight-lane design predominantly catering to cars to

1786-526: The night. The next day he was confined to a room at the Willard Hotel." During World War II the British government rented several of the Willard's floors for its supply organization. Jean Monnet had his office there. In 1997 a memorial plaque was erected near the hotel's entrance to commemorate this episode. Martin Luther King Jr. , wrote his famous " I Have a Dream " speech in his hotel room at

1833-473: The portion of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to all vehicular traffic. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic, however, was still permitted on the sidewalk. After the September 11 attacks , all traffic in front of the White House was prohibited, and traffic near the White House is redirected to H Street or Constitution Avenue , both of which eventually link back with Pennsylvania Avenue. In 2002,

1880-632: The same, but Willard must pay in gold coin (which had not depreciated in value the way paper currency had). The present 12-story structure, designed by famed hotel architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh , opened in 1901. It suffered a major fire in 1922 which caused $ 250,000 (equivalent to $ 4,550,696 as of 2023), in damages. Among those who had to be evacuated from the hotel were Vice President Calvin Coolidge , several U.S. senators , composer John Philip Sousa , motion picture producer Adolph Zukor , newspaper publisher Harry Chandler , and numerous other media, corporate, and political leaders who were present for

1927-668: The six buildings, combined them into a single structure, and enlarged it into a four-story hotel he renamed Willard's Hotel . Willard purchased the hotel property from Ogle Tayloe in 1864, but a dispute over the purchase price and the form of payment (paper currency or gold coin) led to a major equity lawsuit that ended up in the Supreme Court of the United States . The Supreme Court split the difference in Willard v. Tayloe . 75 U.S. 557 (1869): The purchase price would remain

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1974-468: Was a wide dirt road ridiculed by Jefferson as "The Great Serbonian Bog ", he planted it with rows of fast-growing Populus nigra . In 1832, in an effort to tame dust and dirt on Pennsylvania Avenue, it was paved using the macadam method. But over the years, other pavement methods were trialed on the avenue: cobblestones in 1849 followed by Belgian blocks and then, in 1871, wooden blocks. Pennsylvania Avenue once provided an unobstructed view between

2021-402: Was added. The hotel's reopening on August 20, 1986, amid great celebration, was attended by several U.S. Supreme Court justices and U.S. senators. In the late 1990s, the hotel once again underwent significant restoration. The first group of three Japanese ambassadors to the United States stayed at the Willard with seventy-four other delegates in 1860, where they observed that their hotel room

2068-407: Was held. Ford's funeral went up Pennsylvania Avenue, pausing at the White House en route to Washington National Cathedral , where his funeral was held. In addition to serving as a location for official functions, Pennsylvania Avenue is a traditional parade and protest route of ordinary citizens. During the depression of the 1890s , Jacob Coxey marched 500 supporters down Pennsylvania Avenue to

2115-462: Was more luxurious than the U.S. Secretary of State 's house. It was the first time an official Japanese delegation traveled to a foreign destination, and many tourists and journalists gathered to see the sword-carrying Japanese. In the 1860s, author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote that "the Willard Hotel more justly could be called the center of Washington than either the Capitol or the White House or

2162-541: Was one of the earliest streets constructed in the city. The width of the avenue was set at 160 feet, identical to the narrowest points of the Champs Elysees in Paris that L'Enfant is likely to have examined. The first documented reference to the street as Pennsylvania Avenue was in a 1791 letter from Thomas Jefferson . One theory behind the avenue's name is that it was named for Pennsylvania as consolation for moving

2209-573: Was staying in the building. Attempting to re-enter the building, he was asked to identify himself to the fire marshal, to which he responded, "I'm the Vice President." The fire marshal's response was "What are you vice president of?" Several hundred officers, many of them combat veterans of World War I , first gathered with the General of the Armies, John J. "Blackjack" Pershing , at the Willard Hotel on October 2, 1922, and formally established

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