The National Mall is often referred to as the political heart of the United States. This vast green area in the centre of Washington, D.C. is lined with imposing monuments, iconic government buildings and impressive museums. This is truly the place where Washington captivates, impresses and radiates power.
In 1791, President George Washington commissioned the French-American architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant to design the capital of the United States in an area of about 22 square kilometres. L'Enfant wanted to create a 'grand boulevard' between the United States Capitol and the place where the Washington Monument now stands. In 1901, Senator James McMillan initiated the McMillan Plan, an extension of the L'Enfant plan creating the National Mall as we know it today.