National Mall: Wonder of Democracy

May 5, 2008 — -- Democracy is one of the great wonders of America. It is more than our form of government; it is synonymous with our national identity and our national character.

Although we associate democracy with ideas like "freedom" and "equality," there is one physical place in America where our values, ideals, and traditions are on display everyday for the whole world to see - the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

When I stand at the entrance to the National Museum of American History, I am in the center of the National Mall and I can see most of the major landmarks of this amazing public space that stretches out over two miles. To the east, there is the gleaming dome of U.S. Capitol and the superb museums of the Smithsonian Institution. The National Gallery of Art and the U.S. Botanic Gardens, with their unsurpassed collections of art and horticulture, occupy prominent sites along the Mall. Within a short walk, a visitor can see a stunning variety of styles from the Smithsonian Castle by James Renwick Jr. to the National Gallery's East Building by I.M. Pei.

Turning to view the western half of the Mall, I have a clear view of the monumental landscape that honors great leaders of our nation - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt - as well as the men and women who have served in the major wars of our history. The monuments not only honor the people who have shaped our history but also reflect the creativity of artists, architects, and sculptors. From the classical designs of Henry Bacon (Lincoln Memorial) and John Russell Pope (Jefferson Memorial) to the powerfully abstract form of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Lin, the Mall offers visitors a three-dimensional lesson in architectural history.

When I read about how the Mall developed, I realize that the design of the Mall itself represents a major chapter in the history of urban planning in America. Although Pierre L'Enfant's original plan for Washington included a broad open area from the Capitol to the Potomac River, the place we call the National Mall evolved slowly through the 19th century when the major projects included the Capitol, the first buildings of the Smithsonian, and Victorian period landscaping.