Existing comment:
Washington Monument2X NNW (Closer): Old EOB
Look for:
National Cathedral (on horizon)
Old Executive Office Building (funky architecture in front of red building)
(Pinnacle is the First Division Monument) Corcoran (Grass) Art Gallery <--- white building, to left of grass
American Red Cross <----------- two white rectangles, green-ish roofs
Note: The American Red Cross building is their national headquarters.
The Old Executive Office Building took 17 years to build, beginning in 1871. In its early days, it was considered an aberration. Mark Twain called it "The ugliest building in America". Harry Truman called it "The greatest monstrosity in America." The original architech sued the US Govt for nearly $160,000 due to him for his work, committing suicide in 1890. When it was completed in 1888, it was the country's largest office building and has cost $10 million. The Department of State, War, and Navy took up residence here and one-upsmanship between the services helped to add to the building's cost. Much of America's diplomatic business was conducted in these elegant rooms; in 1898 the Spanish Ambassador was given his walking papers and thus war was declared here; in 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed here ending World War I; in 1942 the United Nations Declaration was signed here. In 1943, the Army, Navy, and Air Force were combined as the Department of Defense and moved to the newly-constructed Pentagon. In 1947, the State Department moved to its new building. Since then, the building has housed the Vice President of the United States, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisors. It also held the National Security Council and it was here that Oliver North shredded documents about the Iran-Contra deal. |