St. Elizabeths in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Redevelopment of St. Elizabeths
St. Elizabeths
| | Preserving the Legacy. Realizing Potential. | |
Bringing a Landmark Back to Life
St. Elizabeths overs approximately 350 acres. The West Campus, on the other side of the historic wall in front of you, is comprised of 176 acres and is the oldest part of the historic campus. It is owned by the United States government and will be redeveloped by the U.S. General Services Administration for use as headquarters for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The East Campus, owned by the District of Columbia, is located on the opposite side of Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue.
St. Elizabeths has been designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural and social importance to the history of the United States. Its Gothic Revival and Italianate architecture, its landscapes, its association with advancements in the treatment of mental illness, and its association with significant individuals such as mental health care reformer, Dorothea Dix, St. Elizabeths' first Superintendent Dr. Charles W. Nichols, and Thomas U. Walter, Architect of the Capitol, all contribute to St. Elizabeths' landmark status.
A New Home for the Department of Homeland Security
Since 2005 the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been meeting with local community groups, government agencies, and interested parties regarding plans for St. Elizabeths. GSA's redevelopment will provide DHS with approximately 4.5 million gross square feet for a secure headquarters for 15,000 employees. When completed in 2016, more than 15 different components of DHS will be located at St. Elizabeths.
Of the 62 historic buildings which contribute to St. Elizabeths' designation as a National Historic Landmark, 51 will be retained and rehabilitated for reuse. Large portions of the historic landscape will be rehabilitated and the historic 19th-century cemetery will be preserved.
Phase I of redevelopment will include a new headquarters building for the United States Coast Guard. The building will consist of approximately 1.2 million square feet and will be located along the embankment on the westernmost edge of the West Campus just east of I-295. The building will step down the hill to minimize its visual profile from outside the campus and will include many sustainable features and technologies.
Erected by U.S. General Services Administration.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 2005.
Location. 38° 51.176′ N, 76° 59.77′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in St. Elizabeths. It is at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Southeast and Redwood Street, on the right when traveling south on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Southeast. Marker is at Gate 2 of St. Elizabeths Campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2701 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue Southeast, Washington DC 20032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of St. Elizabeths Hospital (here, next to this marker); St. Elizabeths Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Curative Powers of Nature (approx. Ό mile away); Grandpapa's Farm (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hillsdale (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Elizabeths Hospital Civil War Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Campbell African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Barry Farm Dwellings (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southeast Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

