Rawlins Park
Photo by Brent McKee, Creative Commons 2018
Description
According to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (2009 edition), the history of Rawlins Park dates back to about 1872, when Congress authorized $10,000 for a statue of Union General John Rawlins.
From 1935 to 1938, Rawlins Park was redesigned and renovated by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This work included a reflecting pool and new landscaping, and probably more. (There are two reflecting pools at the park today).
A recent walking tour guide to New Deal Washington reports that Rawlins Park “is typical of Works Progress Administration projects that rehabilitated parks throughout the U.S.” (NEA, 2009)
A Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) report from the early 1990s does not mention the WPA, but notes that work performed in the 1930s “remains largely in place today”.
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National Park Service cleaning Rawlins Park
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Bench seats at Rawlins Park
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Statue of General John Rawlins
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Deteriorating reflecting pool
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Rawlins Park fountain
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Algae build-up in fountain
Source notes
“District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites” (September 30, 2009 edition),” State Historic Preservation Office, D.C. Office of Planning, p. 134 (accessed June 2, 2019).
“New Deal Washington,” walking tour guide, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, 2009 (accessed June 2, 2019).
“Rawlins Park,” Historic American Buildings Survey, National Park Service, HABS No. DC-683, 1990-1993 (accessed June 2, 2019).
Project originally submitted by Brent McKee and Maureen Budetti on June 3, 2019.
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