The Landscape Architect's
Guide to Washington, D.C.

 

Did you know there was a Congressional Cemetery on Capitol Hill? Have you see the "Exorcist" steps on Prospect Street in Georgetown (pictured)? These less well known sites in the D.C. area, along with the iconic memorials, monuments, gardens, plazas, squares, parks and neighborhoods, are presented in "The Landscape Architect's Guide to Washington, D.C." Note: When Father Damien character tumbled down the steps to his death in the Exorcist, the stone steps were padded with half-inch thick rubber for the stuntman, who had to do the fall twice! Enterprising Georgetown University students reportedly charged people $5 to watch the stunt from their rooftops.

The ASLA has launched "The Landscape Architect's Guide to Washington, D.C.", an online source contributed to by 20 prominent landscape architects, all designers in the public realm. The landscape architects have selected, identified and commented on more than 75 historic, modern and contemporary landscapes in the nation's capital and the Arlington, Va. area. The guide is annotated with more than 800 photos.

"D.C.'s vibrant public realm didn't just magically appear, but was carefully designed over the years and is continually evolving through interactions among elected leaders, communities and landscape architects," notes ASLA CEO Nancy Somerville.

The guide is divided into 16 distinct tours, which includes a "Tour D.C.'s Bicycle Network." Each tour covers multiple neighborhoods and includes a printable walking or biking map. Many of the sites are included in the tourist guides, such as the often visited museums and memorials on the Mall, but others are less well known and may prompt you to seek them out next time your in D.C.