George Washington Memorial Parkway - North: Cultural Landscape Inventory, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service

Donaldson, Emily

The cultural landscape of the north section of George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP – North) comprises a total of 1,139 acres along Virginia’s Potomac River. It is a component landscape of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), a landscaped road that includes 7,146 acres along 38.3 miles of Potomac River shore in VA, DC, and MD. The southern portion of this roadway is the oldest and was historically known as the Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy (MVMH). It extends 15.2 miles from the Arlington Memorial Bridge to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The section of the GWMP located to the north of DC, along the MD side of the Potomac River, is referred to as the Clara Barton Pkwy (CLBA), and extends 6.6 miles from the Chain Bridge in Washington, DC north to MacArthur Blvd. The section of parkway that runs parallel to this one, on the VA side of the river, is called GWMP – North and extends roughly 7.5 miles north to the Capital Beltway/Interstate 495. This landscape includes the section of the GWMP extending from the intersection with Spout Run Pkwy north to the Capital Beltway. The GWMP consists of a four-lane roadway divided by a median. It offers a blend of natural components and designed landscape. The MVMH section of the GWMP was developed as a memorial to George Washington. The concept of a roadway from Washington, DC to Mount Vernon first appeared as early as 1888, and was constructed from 1928 to 1932. The MVMH served as inspiration for the Capper-Cramton Act signed by President Hoover in 1930.This legislation authorized funds for an expanded parkway along the Potomac that would include the MVMH and be known as the George Washington Memorial Parkway. By 1963 the last bridge of the parkway’s north section was complete.Thanks to the attention given to views in the Capper-Cramton Act, planners devoted special care to the preservation of historic vistas through the management of vegetation and small-scale features along the road. Bridges, natural systems, and circulation features all contribute to the framing of vistas along the corridor, although some of these views have been compromised by the recent growth of vegetation. The Rt. 123 Overpass was the region’s first pre-stressed concrete girder bridge, while the cloverleaf design used for the Rt. 123 Interchange was highly innovative for its 1950s construction. The utilization of advanced engineering was thus an important theme throughout the construction of GWMP – North. The original portion of the GWMP, the MVMH, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The section of parkway north of Memorial Bridge, including GWMP – North and the CLBA north to the Capital Beltway, was approved for listing in the National Register in 1995, as part of a multiple property nomination entitled “Parkways of the National Capital Region.” The GWMP – North cultural landscape is significant under NR Criterion A, for its association with the broader planning of Washington, DC, for its parkway engineering, and for its 1950s transportation innovations. It is also significant under Criterion B, for its historical and commemorative associations with George Washington. Lastly, this section of the parkway is significant under Criterion C for its well-designed landscape architecture. The period of significance for GWMP – North is 1930 to 1963, beginning with the commitment of the Federal government to authorize its funding through the Capper-Cramton Act, and ending with the completion of the last bridge of the parkway at Dead Run. Although the GWMP has recently undergone certain alterations in order to meet safety guidelines, the parkway’s north section retains a high level of integrity to its historic period of significance. From its earliest days, the GWMP has been perceived as a scenic transportation route, as well as a recreational and environmental conservation area. Today, the parkway serves as a major transportation artery in the region.

George Washington Memorial Parkway - North: Cultural Landscape Inventory, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service

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