Fort Myer in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Pierre Charles L’Enfant
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, May 25, 2025
1. Pierre Charles L’Enfant Marker
Pierre Charles L’Enfant
Engineer, Artist, Soldier
under the direction of George Washington, designed the plan for the Federal City
Major US Engineer Corps 1782
Charter member of the Society of the Cincinnati, designed its certificate & insignia
Born in Paris France, August 2, 1755
Died June 14, 1825, while residing at Chilham Castle Manor, Prince George's Co., Maryland and was interred there
Re interred at Arlington April 28, 1909
L’Enfant designed a city responsive to the aspirations of a nation which looked to the future. He envisioned the Nation’s capital as a living and permanent symbol of the United States.
Public contributions to his adopted country:
1787 · Designed insignia of Society of Cincinnati
1788 · Designed pavilion for celebration of the "Federal Procession" in New York City, 1789
1788-89 · Remodelled New York City Hall into Federal Hall for use by the first Federal Congress
1791-92 · Designed the City of Washington
Son oeuvre aux Etats-Unis:
1783 Dessina l’insigne de l’Ordre des Cincinnati
1788 Réalisa le pavillon pour le “Défilé Federal” de 1789, à New York
1788-89 Transforma l’Hôtel de Ville de New York en bâtiment fédéral à l’occasion de la reunión du noveau
this page online
1791-92 Dessina le plan de la Ville de Washington
"Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia, ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America and by them established as the seat of their government after the year of MDCCC"
Observations explanatory of the Plan...
[map/diagram]
Insignia:
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The Society of the Cincinnati
Erected by National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and The American Society of Le Souvenir Francais.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the National Cemeteries series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 28, 1731.
Location. 38° 52.866′ N, 77° 4.343′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Fort Myer. It can be reached from Lee Drive. Marker is near the main entrance to Arlington House (the Robert E. Lee National Memorial) which is accessible for pedestrians 0.15 miles northeast of Sheridan Drive on the grounds of the Arlington
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, August 24, 2008
2. Pierre Charles L'Enfant Marker
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Platforms of Power (here, next to this marker); Evolving Vision (a few steps from this marker); Arlington Estate, 1860 (a few steps from this marker); Paying Tribute (a few steps from this marker); Trophy of War (within shouting distance of this marker); Division and Unification (within shouting distance of this marker); A Place of Division and Reunification (within shouting distance of this marker); Garden to Graves (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Arlington House, 1864 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Additional commentary.
1. Attribution of Plan in marker
The right side of this marker illustrates a "Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia ...". Note that, while L'Enfant drew his original plan for the City of Washington in 1791, the plan shown on the marker is that drawn by Andrew Ellicott in 1792.
Note the upper right corner of the marker contains the plan's legend. The
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
3. Pierre Charles L'Enfant Marker
The Library of Congress has attributed this plan to both Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) and Thackera & Vallance. (See: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3850.ct004180/).
— Submitted October 23, 2017, by Bernard H. Berne of Arlington, Virginia.
Photographed by Thierry Chaunu, May 17, 2023
4. Pierre Charles L’Enfant Marker
The marker has been rededicated on June 14, 2022. It was erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Society of Le Souvenir Français, Inc.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
5. Society of the Cincinnati Insignia
The insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati was designed by L'Enfant, a charter member.Close-up of image on marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 29, 2013
6. Pierre Charles L'Enfant Monument
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 11, 2017
7. Pierre Charles L’Enfant's Monument
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 11, 2017
8. Revolutionary Soldier
1775 - 1783
1775 - 1783
The National Society
Daughters American Revolution
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 11, 2017
9. L’Enfant's Plan of the City of Washington
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, August 30, 2008
10. The grave of Pierre Charles L'Enfant
It is on the lawn a few feet east of the marker. Carved within a circle on the stone tablet atop the monument is a portion of L’Enfant’s map of the city of Washington followed by these words: “Pierre Charles L’Enfant, Engineer, Artist, Soldier. Under the direction of George Washington designed the plan for the federal city. Major, U.S. Engineering Corps, 1782; charter member of the Society of The Cincinnati; designed its certificate & insignia. Born in Paris, France, August 2, 1735; died June 14, 125 while residing at Chilham Castle Manor, Prince George’s County, Maryland, and was interred there. Re-interred at Arlington, April 28, 1909.”
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, August 24, 2008
11. View eastward toward Washington, D.C., from the L'Enfant marker
Note President John F. Kennedy's gravesite at the bottom of the hill.
Photographed by Herbert A. French, circa 1926
12. Original Pierre Charles L'Enfant Marker
Note this marker replicates the top of L'Enfant's grave marker, seen in the next picture. This photograph, taken circa 1926-1927, was a gift from Herbert A. French to the Library of Congress.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Herbert A. French, circa 1926
13. Pierre Charles L'Enfant Grave Marker
This photograph, taken circa 1926-1927, was a gift from Herbert A. French to the Library of Congress.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,837 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on May 22, 2023, by Thierry Chaunu of New York, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on May 25, 2025, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on November 30, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on May 22, 2023, by Thierry Chaunu of New York, New York. 5, 6. submitted on November 30, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8, 9. submitted on January 8, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10, 11. submitted on September 1, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 12, 13. submitted on October 23, 2017, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
