The Washington, D.C. and the White House Creation Story

When John Adams arrives in the new capitol of the United States of America in Washington, D.C. he was expecting more than what was presented to him rolling up on his horse wagon. He expected elegant houses and shaded gardens he saw ruts in the road and no record of the streets from a architect viewpoint. Adams writes letters where he describes feeling sorry for the men that have ruled under this roof, talking about the White House. To show why the capitol when Adams arrives Wulf takes us back to how it was in the condition it was in because of Washington and Jefferson. 

This is the sketch Jefferson used to layout the capitol. He describes it as a small town with two squares should be allocated for the president's house and gardens. Jefferson's model requires only 1500 acres of land. In contrast Washington saw the capitol as a magnificent city. He proclaimed a mighty, dominant central government. He dreamed up a capitol that required 5,000 acres. Washington's layout was similar to Jefferson in the way the land was in a rectangular and regular grids. Washington was a very futuristic ideas with the buildings and in-bodying the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the Union. 

The capitol has grown from both the presidents ideas of the layout of the buildings and gardens. I think that Washington's and Adams idea of the capitol was the right direction for America at the time. Looking towards the future was a key thought process of building the American peoples new way of thinking. Being its own country, giving the people something to be proud of and fight for beyond the freedom. Presenting a strong capitol presents to the people the dedication of the leaders of the country to moving past British influences. You know maybe we as American people would be at the same place in our power as a country but i do believe that the way Washington and Adams approach the capitol at that point in history was a key to the mindset of the people as much as the actual land and buildings.