Mount Vernon Memorial Highway- South of Alexandria: Cultural Landscape Inventory, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service

Kelsch, Paul; Bayer, David; Sheehan, Dave

The cultural landscape of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway south of Alexandria (MVMH‑South) comprises the southernmost component of the parent landscape of George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP). The southern portion of GWMP, known as Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (MVMH), extends 15.2 miles along the Potomac River’s Virginia shore from Memorial Bridge to President George Washington’s historic home and tomb at Mount Vernon (GWMP – North CLI, NPS 2009). For the purposes of this CLI, MVMH – South will refer to the portion of the parkway from the north bank of Hunting Creek to the terminus at Mount Vernon a distance of approximate‑y 8 miles. MVMH‑South traverses several distinct areas along its length that have been known by varied names at different times. For the purposes of this CLI, MVMH‑South is divided into northern, central, and southern segments, each comprising approximately one‑third of the inventory unit. The inventory unit is further divided into eight locales, here described in sequence from north to south: Hunting Creek Bridge refers to the northern end of the inventory unit, where the roadway crosses the mouth of Hunting Creek. Belle Haven refers to the area from the southern bank of Hunting Creek to Dyke Marsh, and includes the sub‑locales of Belle Haven picnic area, the marina, and Dyke Inlet. Dyke Marsh re‑fers to the section of highway that skirts the low‑lying inland edge of Dyke Marsh. It includes the sub‑locale of Dyke Pullout, the rounded, marsh‑overlooking pullout that was included on MVMH‑South’s original plans. Wellington refers to that portion of the highway that turns and rises inland after Dyke Marsh to accommodate the pre‑existing residential development of Wellington Villa. Collingwood refers to the section of the highway that turns and descends back to the river in preparation for mounting the head‑land housing Fort Hunt. It includes the sub‑locale of Collingwood Picnic Area. Fort Hunt refers to the section of the highway that climbs and rounds the southeastern edge of Fort Hunt’s headland before dropping back down to the river. Riverside refers to the section of the highway that rejoins the Potomac, tracing the river’s edge between Fort Hunt and Little Hunting Creek. It includes the sub‑locales of Vernon View, which contained the first designed view of Mount Vernon itself, and Riverside Park. Terminus refers to the section of highway from the southern bank of Little Hunting Creek, up the final climbing approach turn, to and including the roundabout at Mount Vernon. MVMH was conceived and developed both as a patriotic pilgrimage route and as a memorial to George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although construction did not begin until 1928, a roadway from Washington DC to Mount Vernon was first proposed by the Mount Vernon Avenue Association (MVAA) in 1888, and consequently there are two periods of significance, one for the planning phase and one for the construction phase. The first period, the planning phase, extends from 1888, the date of the initial proposal, to 1901, when the Senate Park Commission first proposed the naturalistic parkway that would eventually become the MVMH. The second period of significance began with the congressional appropriation of construction funds in 1928, and extended until 1955, when MVMH’s arterial, recreational, and residential development was essentially complete. As plans and construction advanced in preparation for the 1932 bicentennial celebration of Washington’s birth, MVMH inspired further action, and on May 29, 1930 the Capper‑Cramton Act authorized funds for an expanded parkway that would preserve both the Virginia and DC/Maryland shores of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon to Great Falls. This included the MVMH and would be known as the GWMP.

Mount Vernon Memorial Highway- South of Alexandria: Cultural Landscape Inventory, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service

Series

Collections