Franklin Square (Washington, D.C.)
Franklin Square is a square in downtown Washington, D.C.. Named after Benjamin Franklin, it is bounded by K Street Northwest to the north, 13th Street NW on the east, I Street NW on the south, and 14th Street NW on the west. It is served by the McPherson Square station of the Washington Metro, which is located just southwest of the park. Franklin Square remains a frequent destination for the homeless, as there are no other downtown shelters.
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[edit] Features
The park is partially terraced, and slopes uphill from I Street to K Street. There are many large trees, a significant quantity of grass, many benches, and a fountain in the center of the park. There is also a statue of Commodore John Barry on the west side of the park, dedicated in 1914.
[edit] History
According to the D.C. Preservation League, Franklin Square was originally the site of several natural springs. The government purchased the property and by 1832 had installed pipes to carry water to the White House.[1] Across 13th Street on the east side of the square is the historic Franklin School, which was a model of advanced design in its day and the scene of Alexander Graham Bell's first wireless message. On June 3, 1880, Bell sent a message over a beam of light to a window in a building at 1325 L Street, NW.[2] Until recently the school served as a homeless shelter. The remaining residents were evicted on September 26, 2008, and the building is now vacant.[3] Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross maintained a residence adjacent to the park at 1326 I Street, where she held the first official meeting of the relief organization in May 1881.[4]
[edit] In popular culture
- Nobel Laureate Charles Townes has said that he conceived the theory behind the laser/maser principle while sitting on a bench in the square.[5]
- The square figures prominently in Dan Brown's 2009 thriller The Lost Symbol.
[edit] References
- ^ "Franklin Square, Foursquare Venue Page". DC Preservation League. 2011. https://foursquare.com/dcpresleague.
- ^ "Franklin Square, National Register of Historic Places". National Park Service. 2009. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/wash/dc29.htm.
- ^ Harris, Hamil R.; Stewart, Nikita (October 8, 2008). "Barry Delays Bill After Bickering Highlights Council Divide". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100703089.html. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "History". American Red Cross, Clara Barton Chapter # 1. http://www.redcrossclara.com/History.html.
- ^ "Marvelous Masers: Charles Townes". Smithsonian Institution. 2005. http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/ilives/townes/townes.html.
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Coordinates: 38°54′6.8″N 77°1′51″W / 38.901889°N 77.03083°W
