MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
Mt Vernon Square to Union Station
New Jersey to North Capitol Avenues NW

Sanborn, 1904	Today	Cross Section

National Guard Memorial Building	US Army Corps of Engineers (Casimir Pulaski) Building

This section is characterized by government buildings and a strong civic presence. The section’s transformation from residential to institutional use occurred much sooner than other blocks in this section. According to the 1892 Boist insurance map of ou r section, the Gales Public School was the largest structure on the streetfront and sat amidst residential row houses. Today the Gales building is overwhelmed by the other massive structures in the block, and currently contains the District of Col umbia Bureau of Parking Services. The section also hosts the US Army Corps of Engineers (Casimir Pulaski) Building and the National Guard Memorial Building. The National Guard Memorial Building, which was designed in 1959, is on a site tha t previously held the Hotel Harris (1932 Boist Map) and a gas station (1957 Boist map). The present building contains an exhibition hall of military artifacts and the headquarters for the National Guard Association.

The eight-story Government Printing Office Complex, which was built in 1861 and today is considered one of the largest printing complexes in the world, serves as a massive backdrop to the parking lot between the former Gales School and the National Guard Memorial Building. Future preservation initiatives for the federal buildings’ monumental facades will continue this area’s success as a civic realm.

Government Printing Office