English: Looking northwest Constitution Avenue NW at Virginia Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. From 1873 to about 1890, Virginia Avenue NW was the western terminus of Constitution Avenue NW.

Constitution Avenue NW existed only between 3rd and 15th Streets NW from the city's inception in 1791 to 1871. Between 1871 and 1873, the city covered over the Tiber Creek estuary and built the street on top of it west to Virginia Avenue NW. Between 1881 and 1890, the city dredged the Potomac River and reclaimed the land that now constitutes West Potomac Park (for use as a levee). Constitution Avenue NW was then extended through the park to 23rd Street NW.

When Arlington Memorial Bridge was authorized for construction in 1926, Congress ordered that "B Street" be extended to the Potomac River and widened into a ceremonial gateway for the city. In 1931, Congress changed the name of "B Street" to Constitution Avenue. A granite terrace and small traffic circle was constructed on the shores of the Potomac to form the western terminus of the street.

In the 1950s, Congress authorized construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, and ordered that the bridge connect with Interestate-66 (then being built from the east toward the city). Constitution Avenue NW was torn up and the area restored to parkland west of 23rd Street NW. Raised on-ramps and off-ramps were built through the area to connect the avenue to the bridge. The terrace and traffic circle were not destroyed, however.

In 1901, the Senate Parks Commission produced a master plan (the "McMillan Plan") to beautify the National Mall area in Washington, D.C. Among its requirements was that sidewalks on the Mall be lined with double-rows of American elms and beeches. Although the sidewalks were removed when Constitution Avenue was torn up in the 1950s, some of the double-rows of trees survived.