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Post by htmb on Aug 9, 2012 18:22:38 GMT
I have started this thread as a place to post photos and descriptions of some of the many architecturally interesting buildings in the Washington, DC, and Arlington/Alexandria, Virginia area as I explore over the next several months. This will not be a place to post photos of iconic buildings such as the White House or the Capital Building, but rather images of structures that may be new to those of us who are not as familiar with the area. The first photo is of the Sears Tower, located on Mount Vernon Square in Washington, as opposed to the Chicago Sears Tower. I love the lines of this building and the way it appears, on the outside at least, to have been beautifully restored. Near the Sears Tower is another very intriguing building, the Fireman's Insurance Company. It's distinctive red brick and gold dome set it apart from its surroundings, and it is hard to believe the dome and cupola were once missing during a time when it was allowed to fall into disrepair. The Queen Anne-style building was opened in 1882. A detailed history of the building may be found here.I wasn't able to explore the interiors of my first two selections, but do recall seeing a Starbucks in the ground floor,Sears Building Across the Potomac River in Alexandria stands Virginia Theological Seminary. The Seminary spreads out across 80 acres and was founded in 1823 to ...educate men for the ministry of Christ's church. It was born of the struggle which followed the Revolutionary War. Among our founders were Bishop William Meade, the third Bishop of Virginia, and Francis Scott Key, whose 1814 poem The Defence of Fort McHenry became the text for our National Anthem in 1931." Beginning in the 1970s, woman also became eligible for ordination to the ministry.During the time of the Civil War, 1700 wounded Federal troops were housed there, and 500 soldiers were buried on the Seminary grounds. During recent times, one of the most devastating events occurred in October of 2010 when the Immanuel Chapel, which had served as an integral part of Seminary life since 1881, was gutted by fire. Plans are being implemented to build a new worship space and the Seminary leadership is in the middle of a capital campaign to raise the extra funds not covered by insurance. It may also be possible that parts of the walls of the old chapel will be kept and the area will be turned into an outdoor space for prayer and contemplation. Click here to learn more about the chapel.
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Post by htmb on Aug 9, 2012 19:40:33 GMT
The Geoege Washington Masonic Memorial is located near the intersection of Kimg Street and Callahan Drive, just west of the King Street metro station in Arlington. The Memorial is 333 feet tall and is located on top of Shuter's Hill. Construction on the. building began in 1922, but the interior was not completed until 1970.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 22:02:40 GMT
These are really excellent and I will certainly admit that this is the first time that I have seen any of these buildings. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by htmb on Aug 9, 2012 23:33:31 GMT
Not far from the Lincoln Memorial stands the dove topped United States Institute of Peace. The building officially opened in 2011. There was work being done on the building the day i was there so I was unable to get a good photo. However, this link to a Washington Post article contains an excellent photograph. Further down the Washington Mall and across Constitution Avenue from the American History Museum stands a building more in keeping with the traditional Washington, DC style, the Environmental Protection Administration Headquarters. In the early twentieth century, the area of Washington, D.C., now known as the Federal Triangle was one of the city's most blighted neighborhoods. In an attempt to improve the city, the federally funded Senate Park Commission developed an urban redevelopment plan that incorporated the ideals of the City Beautiful movement. The 1901 McMillan Plan, as it came to be known, proposed that the triangular area between Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Mall, and the Ellipse be developed as an enclave of monumental, classically inspired federal buildings. Environmental Protection Administration
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Post by htmb on Aug 10, 2012 4:23:47 GMT
These are really excellent and I will certainly admit that this is the first time that I have seen any of these buildings. Keep 'em coming! Thanks for the encouragement, Kerouac. I decided to divide everything up to make for easier viewing. I have plenty of photos to post from my recent trip to the Washington/Virginia area, but they will better fit into other categories. I just posted a new thread on monuments and memorials. I plan to extend that thread, as well as this one, after my next trip which will be sometime in the fall. I'm also working on an "Old Town Alexandria, Va thread that I hope to post soon. I spent yesterday taking lots of photos of the area.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 14, 2012 17:12:25 GMT
Most interesting, Htmb, particularly in regard to how the various important buildings through the decades have referenced but not copied the prevailing Greek Revival or Federalist architecture. The Geo. Washington Masonic Memorial is particularly striking, with its art deco lines growing up from a Greek portico. The reference to the City Beautiful movement intrigued me, so I looked it up & found that it tied into another such movement that has long interested me. (#31 & on down)Your decision to divide up your reports into different categories might start a trend here on anyport. It will certainly make it easier to go back & find something, not to mention making threads load faster. I've been dithering over how to put together a particular report & you've pointed me in the right direction.
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Post by htmb on Aug 14, 2012 17:25:43 GMT
I gave dividing up my reports a lot of thought and decided it might make it easier to find specific information. Plus, I plan to add to these reports, while also writing new ones, over at least the next three years due to future planned trips.
The first time I saw the George Washington Masonic Moument was during twilight hours and it was bathed in fog. The building was all lit up and was absolutely stunning. I had my camera, but was unable to get to a place where I could get a good photo.
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Post by htmb on Oct 18, 2012 23:26:22 GMT
White House Renwick Gallery SunTrust Bank The Department of the Treasury Hotel Washington Union Methodist Episcopal Church from 1846 - 1910 Now a part of George Washington University Located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, The United Church + Die Vereinigte Kirche is a union congregation of the United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church.www.theunitedchurch.org/
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 19, 2012 2:23:44 GMT
I just love seeing these pictures and how cities evolved through architectural styles. You capture them so beautifully, as well. IDs?
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Post by htmb on Oct 19, 2012 3:30:46 GMT
I've added titles for all but one building. I'd like to research their history, but don't have the time at the moment.
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Post by mossie on Oct 19, 2012 7:05:13 GMT
Very interesting. Made me realise that not all American cities were crammed with skyscrapers.
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Post by bjd on Oct 19, 2012 8:00:05 GMT
I too find these interesting -- I had no "mental image" of Washington, since the only pictures we ever see on the news are the White House, the Capitol or the Jefferson memorial, so I had assumed it was rather grandiose. Most of these buildings are still quite impressive, but I find the brick ones are a nice counterpoint to the stone colours.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 19, 2012 15:59:39 GMT
A beautiful display of the structures there htmb. A girlfriend of mine has just moved to DC. I notice that the buildings, streets and landscaping are very well maintained. I think I would like to visit there some time.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2012 19:10:54 GMT
That brings to mind a question -- who maintains the municipality of Washington, D.C.? Is is the federal government? I doubt of the majority of local residents could pay for such things with their taxes.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 20, 2012 2:11:19 GMT
Interesting. It must be both -- the municipality & the federal government. After all, they're a municipality like any other, with a mayor, police force, etc. I've never thought about it, but the federal government must pay for federal buildings in all cities -- federal courthouses & the like.
Htmb, I love all the pictures, but the one of the columns makes my heart sing!
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Post by htmb on Oct 20, 2012 12:32:03 GMT
I'm sure bixa is right about the governance of the city, though I haven't had a chance to research your question, Kerouac. The Heights of Buildings Act of 1899, has helped to preserve an open and airy feel in the city. The Old Post Office building was grandfathered in as it was completed in the same year. I enjoy wandering around the city and coming across one of these unexpected little gems. National Bank of Washington, built in 1889 Mich, when you visit your friend perhaps you can also stop by the Canadian Embassy. The building is quite large, and very open and inviting. Canadian Embassy This next building is connected to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, so I assume it is an office annex. It's amazing to me how so many different types of architectural styles can coexist in one city, making for a most interesting landscape.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 20, 2012 15:00:26 GMT
They really knew how to do proud, imposing, & wealthy-looking back at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries! The Heights of Buildings Act of 1899, has helped to preserve an open and airy feel in the city. It's amazing to me how so many different types of architectural styles can coexist in one city, The predominance of white or at least light-colored buildings certainly helps to give an open and cohesive look. The Canadian embassy is particularly perfect in that setting & even more so with the bright fall color to further represent Canada.
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Post by htmb on Oct 20, 2012 21:58:36 GMT
Are these telamones holding up the Library of Congress, Kerouac?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2012 11:27:53 GMT
As I was admiring all of these buidlings, one thing immediately came to mind: Washington, D.C. obviously has a law limiting the height of buildings.
So I looked it up, and indeed the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 prevents the existence of skyscrapers. Of course, if you read the Wikipedia article about it, you will find that just like in Paris, some "exceptions" have been permitted over the years, but at least not any real skyscrapers.
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Post by htmb on Oct 24, 2012 16:49:06 GMT
You are so right, Kerouac. There was actually a Heights of Buildings Act of 1899 (reported just above the close up of the Old Post Office) that first set the standard for building heights. Though there are exceptions, even in the business office areas to the north of the Foggy Bottom area where I spent some time the buildings are approximately six floors (American) in height.
That's one of the many things I appreciate about both Paris and Washington, DC. They are certainly different spaces, but the openness of each city due to height restrictions, green spaces, and (I think bixa pointed this out earlier) the light color of the majority of the buildings combine to give a very open feel. I don't particularly care to spend much time in downtown areas with huge skyscrapers. I usually get a hemmed in, claustrophobic feel fairly quickly, and find myself wishing to escape.
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Post by htmb on Oct 27, 2012 19:19:57 GMT
After leaving the Mall on one of my walks I was able to get a much better photo of the United States Institute of Peace building. ******** I have divided up my visits to Washington, DC area monuments, memorials, historic places, and art galleries by placing them in other AnyPort threads listed below. The different threads contain numerous photographs of my travels around the area.
Washington, DC, October, 2012
Monuments and Memorials of Washington, DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Smithsonian National American History Museum
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia
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Post by fumobici on Oct 27, 2012 19:47:05 GMT
A "United States Institute of Peace"? That makes about as much sense as an Argentinian Institute of Vegetarianism or a Chinese Institute of Intellectual Property!
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Post by htmb on Oct 27, 2012 20:03:35 GMT
Yep, there really is one, fumobici: USIP is our country's global conflict management center. Created by Congress to be independent and nonpartisan, we work to prevent, mitigate and resolve international conflict through nonviolent means.www.usip.org/
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 29, 2012 21:54:45 GMT
The Heights of Buildings Act of 1899, has helped to preserve an open and airy feel in the city. I instantly thought of this thread upon reading this shocking headline: What Washington, D.C., needs now: A few good skyscrapers[/size][/url] <-- click for articleMy immediate reaction was "no!", a reaction that did not change after reading the article. Anyone see anything in it that I missed?
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 29, 2012 21:55:28 GMT
Oh yeah ~~ what's with the comma after D.C. in the headline?
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Post by htmb on Nov 29, 2012 22:43:11 GMT
Very interesting, bixa, and certainly food for thought. On a personal level, I hope they don't change the height restrictions. I love the wide-open feel of the city, but then I don't live or work there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2012 17:35:22 GMT
Yeah, Paris and Rome are really dead at night, too, due to height restrictions. What a bunch of nonsense.
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Post by htmb on Mar 2, 2013 14:10:07 GMT
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Post by htmb on Mar 5, 2013 3:25:21 GMT
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Post by htmb on Mar 5, 2013 3:36:37 GMT
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