The Tidal Basin in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
River Bottom to Parkland
National Mall and Memorial Parks
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 18, 2019
1. River Bottom to Parkland Marker
Inscription.
River Bottom to Parkland. National Mall and Memorial Parks. Where you are standing was originally the bottom of the Potomac River. The shoreline roughly paralleled 15th Street, skirted around the Washington Monument which stood almost at the river's edge, and then followed what is now the current route of Constitution Avenue. In the 1880s, planners developed a strategy for reclaiming this area, which at low tide was nothing but mud flats. Dredging operations and seawall construction created the Tidal Basin and East and West Potomac parks. In 1897, the United States Congress designated this new section of the city as parkland "for the recreation and scenic pleasure of the people."
Where you are standing was originally the bottom of the Potomac River. The shoreline roughly paralleled 15th Street, skirted around the Washington Monument which stood almost at the river's edge, and then followed what is now the current route of Constitution Avenue. In the 1880s, planners developed a strategy for reclaiming this area, which at low tide was nothing but mud flats. Dredging operations and seawall construction created the Tidal Basin and East and West Potomac parks. In 1897, the United States Congress designated this new section of the city as parkland "for the recreation and scenic pleasure of the people."
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Location. 38° 52.863′ N, 77° 2.446′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The Tidal Basin. Marker can be reached from Ohio Drive Southwest west of East Basin Drive Southwest, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1420 Ohio Drive Southwest, Washington DC 20418, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker
More about this marker. [Captions:]
This Currier and Ives print shows the original Potomac shoreline. Note how close the Washington Monument is to the river.
This photograph, taken in 1892, shows the newly created Hains Point area. The edge of the Tidal Basin, seen in the lower right, was still under construction.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 18, 2019
2. River Bottom to Parkland Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 18, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
