Independence Avenue
Encyclopedia
In Washington, D.C.
, Independence Avenue is a major east-west street running just south of the United States Capitol
in the city's Southwest
and Southeast
quadrants. The avenue carries heavy commuter traffic on weekdays and heavy tourist traffic on the weekends.
street-naming
system, Independence Avenue was originally known as South B Street. If it had stayed in the city's lettered street system, it would today be known as B Street, S.W. and S.E. However, Constitution Avenue
was originally known as North B Street, and having two major streets running so close together in parallel, both called B Street, would presumably be too confusing for many people. However, the street on the other side of the Anacostia River
corresponding to Independence Avenue is called B Street, S.E.
. At that terminus, Independence Avenue joins Ohio Drive
, which connects the avenue with the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
, Interstate 66
, the E Street Expressway, and the Whitehurst Freeway. At the eastern terminus, Independence Avenue curves around the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
to join the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge
.
, it is lined on the north side by several Smithsonian museums and on the south side by federal agencies, including the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Department of Health and Human Services, Voice of America
(VOA), Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), United States Coast Guard
, and the United States Department of Energy
. The USDA occupies buildings
on both sides of the avenue, connected by a pedestrian bridge over the avenue. Independence Avenue also passes by the United States Botanic Garden
, the House
office buildings and the Library of Congress
and through the city's Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.
, the Korean War Veterans Memorial
, the District of Columbia War Memorial
, the John Paul Jones
Memorial, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
.
, S.E., Independence Avenue is part of the National Highway System
. Other major traffic routes intersecting the avenue are Maine Avenue and Washington Avenue, the latter of which is a short segment of the National Highway System connecting to South Capitol Street
.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Independence Avenue is a major east-west street running just south of the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
in the city's Southwest
Washington, D.C. (southwest)
Southwest is the southwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and is located south of the National Mall and west of South Capitol Street. It is the smallest quadrant of the city. Southwest is small enough that it is frequently referred to as a neighborhood in and of...
and Southeast
Washington, D.C. (southeast)
Southeast is the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and is located south of East Capitol Street and east of South Capitol Street. It includes the Capitol Hill and Anacostia neighborhoods, the Navy Yard, the Marine Barracks, the Anacostia River waterfront,...
quadrants. The avenue carries heavy commuter traffic on weekdays and heavy tourist traffic on the weekends.
Original name
In Washington's Cartesian-coordinate-basedCartesian coordinate system
A Cartesian coordinate system specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances from the point to two fixed perpendicular directed lines, measured in the same unit of length...
street-naming
Street name
A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a street. The street name usually forms part of the address...
system, Independence Avenue was originally known as South B Street. If it had stayed in the city's lettered street system, it would today be known as B Street, S.W. and S.E. However, Constitution Avenue
Constitution Avenue
In Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
was originally known as North B Street, and having two major streets running so close together in parallel, both called B Street, would presumably be too confusing for many people. However, the street on the other side of the Anacostia River
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is approximately long...
corresponding to Independence Avenue is called B Street, S.E.
Termini
The western terminus of Independence Avenue is at 23rd Street, S.W., south of the Lincoln MemorialLincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
. At that terminus, Independence Avenue joins Ohio Drive
Ohio Drive (Washington, D.C.)
Ohio Drive is a street in Southwest Washington, DC, located in East and West Potomac Parks, straddling along the Tidal Basin, Washington Channel, and the Potomac River. Unlike most roads named after states in Washington, Ohio Drive is not an avenue, nor it is heavily used like Wisconsin or Rhode...
, which connects the avenue with the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, often known simply as the Rock Creek Parkway, is a parkway maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C...
, Interstate 66
Interstate 66
Interstate 66 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. As indicated by its even route number, it runs in an east–west direction. Its western terminus is at Middletown, Virginia, at an intersection with Interstate 81; its eastern terminus is in Washington, D.C., at an...
, the E Street Expressway, and the Whitehurst Freeway. At the eastern terminus, Independence Avenue curves around the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
to join the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge
Whitney Young Memorial Bridge
The Whitney Young Memorial Bridge is a bridge that carries East Capitol Street across the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. Finished in 1955, it was originally called the East Capitol Street Bridge. It was renamed for civil rights activist Whitney Young in early 1974...
.
Locations of interest along avenue
Because Independence Avenue forms the southern boundary of the National MallNational Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
, it is lined on the north side by several Smithsonian museums and on the south side by federal agencies, including the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
(USDA), Department of Health and Human Services, Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
(VOA), Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA), United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, and the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. The USDA occupies buildings
U.S. Department of Agriculture Administration Building
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Administration Building, also known as the Jamie L. Whitten Building, houses the administrative offices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The Administration Building projects into the National Mall from the larger U.S...
on both sides of the avenue, connected by a pedestrian bridge over the avenue. Independence Avenue also passes by the United States Botanic Garden
United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden is a botanic garden on the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., near Garfield Circle....
, the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
office buildings and the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
and through the city's Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.
Memorials
Memorials along Independence Avenue include the John Ericsson National MemorialJohn Ericsson National Memorial
John Ericsson National Memorial, located near the National Mall at Ohio Drive and Independence Avenue, SW,in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to the man who revolutionized naval history with his invention of the screw propeller...
, the Korean War Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is located in Washington, D.C.'s West Potomac Park, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and just south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall...
, the District of Columbia War Memorial
District of Columbia War Memorial
The District of Columbia War Memorial commemorates the citizens of the District of Columbia who served in World War I.-History:The memorial stands in West Potomac Park slightly off of Independence Avenue in a grove of trees...
, the John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
Memorial, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the United States' official memorial to the Holocaust. Adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USHMM provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history...
.
Significance in city's road network
From 23rd Street, S.W., to Pennsylvania AvenuePennsylvania Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
, S.E., Independence Avenue is part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
. Other major traffic routes intersecting the avenue are Maine Avenue and Washington Avenue, the latter of which is a short segment of the National Highway System connecting to South Capitol Street
South Capitol Street
South Capitol Street is a major street dividing the southeast and southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C. It runs south from the United States Capitol to the Washington-Maryland line...
.