Capitol Square Cultural Landscape Report
Washington, DC

Heritage Landscapes and an interdisciplinary team worked with the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, DC to develop the Capitol Square Cultural Landscape Report.  For this project, we gathered and synthesized a wealth of documentation on landscape origins, advocacy, evolution, character, and features as Capitol Square evolved between 1791 and today.  Research indicated that the most comprehensive and lasting design effort for the Capitol Grounds and Terrace is their design and construction under the direction of Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. between 1874 and 1894.  Olmsted’s overarching design ideas are identified as: plan symmetry; apparent spatial enlargement; 3 character areas, East, West, and Terraces; controlled views; open tree shaded lawns contrast with  ground plane plantings; and unique Terraces as plinth for the Capitol.  Olmsted's genius in using this restricted space to support the enlarged Capitol can be understood in a brief study of the 1874 grounds as he observed them on his initial visit as compared to the1894 implementation of his plan.
 

Capitol Square Plan, Pre-Olmsted, 1874.

U.S. Capitol West Front, 2010.

Capitol Square Plan, 1894.