Sixteenth Street, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

Significance: Intending at one time to mark a new world meridian, the axis of Sixteenth Street runs through the front and back doors of the White House. Wider than most of the orthogonal streets, in breadth and ceremony it is akin to the city's grand avenues. Around the turn of the century, wealthy Washington widow Mary Henderson attempted to develop the street as the "Avenue of the President's" through congressional pressure and speculative building. Although dozens of historic structures along the street were razed during the 1920-70s, those that remain have earned the segment between N Street and Florida Avenue distinction as the National Register's Sixteenth Street Historic District.
Survey number: HABS DC-717