Existing comment:
Plan of the City of Washington, in the Territory of Columbia, Ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America and Established as the Seat of Government after the Year 1800
When Peter (Pierre) L'Enfant first drew plans for the city, it was rigidly structured with wide roads and grand views. As seen in this engraving of the plan, L'Enfant proposed 15 circles with grand monuments and 13 main diagonal roads named after the thirteen original colonies. The city has changed dramatically over the years, particularly Tiber Creek, which used to stretch far into the National Mall.
John Russell, London, engraving, 1797 |