Southwest in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“a magniﬁcent waterfront entranceway...”
"a magnificent waterfront entranceway..."
Pierre Charles L'Enfant
architect of the Nation's Capital City, describing the Southwest Waterfront to President George Washington
Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, the area known as Southwest was populated by Native Americans long before its written history was first recorded when Captain John Smith mapped the area in 1608. When the District was established in 1791, the area was still rural and largely occupied by the extensive plantations of landholders Daniel Carroll and Duddington and Notley Young.
Under the direction of President George Washington, who envisioned the federal city as both a political capital and a maritime center, Pierre Chalres L'Enfant drafted plans for the Federal City of Washington and recognized the area's potential to be developed into a major inland seaport by incorporating a maritime community along the shoreline, calling it "a magnificent waterfront entranceway."
The Southwest Waterfront has been continuously used as a commercial wharf since the early 1800s, and was a prominent point of arrival for goods and materials used by the growing federal city—home to municipal piers, ice and coal docks, and fish and coastal steamship wharves. More recently, this Potomac Riverfront, the SW ArtsFest,
The views from the Southwest Waterfront during the blooming beloved cherry blossoms are unrivaled, having attracted the likes of President Wilson and Eleanor Roosevelt, and continue to draw large crows today.
Location. 38° 52.791′ N, 77° 1.539′ W. Marker is in Southwest, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Maine Avenue SW and 9th Street SW. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 District Square SW, Washington DC 20024, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. America's Oldest Operating Fish Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Long Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Houseboats on the Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); Urban Renewal (within shouting distance of this marker); American Ice Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterfront Commerce (within shouting distance of this marker); Creating the Waterfront (within shouting distance of this marker); The River Queen (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest.
Categories. • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers •
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2017. This page originally submitted on October 27, 2017, by Devry Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2017, by Devry Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.