2018 Tour Day - Pennsylvania to Pershing: Modern Public Spaces in DC

As part of Docomomo US’s annual Tour Day on Oct. 13, 2018, Docomomo DC will host a walking tour focusing on the design evolution of America’s Main Street:

Pennsylvania Avenue.

Buy tickets to Tour Day 2018.

While the world-famous boulevard connects the U.S. Capitol to the White House, it also includes a number of hidden modernist gems. Docomomo DC will explore the development of Pennsylvania Avenue from Pierre L’Enfant’s plan to the 20th-century work of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, to the current studies of the Pennsylvania Avenue Executive Committee.

Tour highlights include the Mellon Fountain, National Archives, Navy Memorial, Market Square, FBI Headquarters and Federal Triangle. The tour also will focus on two adjacent Modern landscapes conceived and constructed at the same time: Pershing Park and Freedom Plaza. Pershing Park was designed by M. Paul Friedberg + Partners with a central sunken plaza, waterfall, and amphitheater-style seating. Today, Pershing Park is the site of the proposed new federal World War I Memorial, the current design of which would fundamentally alter the character of the park. Freedom Plaza was designed by Robert Venturi and George Patton. Both parks opened in 1981.

This year’s national tour theme, "Public Spaces—Inside and Out,” builds upon the 2018 advocacy focus of Docomomo US and invites people to explore the innovative design concepts of common spaces set aside for public use while bringing attention to the threats facing many of these significant sites. Tour Day is an annual celebration of modern architecture and design where the public and like-minded organizations across the country participate in a tour or event on the second Saturday of October and throughout the month.

The tour will begin at 2 p.m. at Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th and 14th streets.) A Happy Hour for participants will follow the tour. Tickets are $20 for Docomomo DC and APT DC members and $30 for the general public.

Tickets can be purchased in advance.