The DC Traveler

Lafayette Park, directly north of the White House, was originally part of a larger “President’s Park,” which makes up much of the grounds surrounding the White House. It was until 1804, originally part of the White House grounds, but when President Thomas Jefferson ordered that Pennsylvania Avenue be connected between 15th and 17th Streets, the plot of land was cut off from White House grounds.

Twenty years later, the 7-acre President’s Park was renamed Lafayette Park, after the French General who participated in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the six foreigners that were ever granted Honorary Citizenship of the United States, along with Winston Churchill; humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg; governor of the American colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn and his wife; and Mother Teresa.

Over the year, Lafayette Park has been used for many purposes, besides a comfortable park - a race track, a graveyard, an apple orchard, a zoo, and even a slave market. Within blocks of the park, slaves were housed who labored constructing the White House.

During the Civil War, parts of the park were used as a Union Army encampment for as well as to corral their horses, mules and cattle.

The park hosts five statues, four of foreign Revolutionary War heroes, including Lafayette, French General Rochambeau, Poland’s General Kosciuszko and General Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben of Prussia. One American, President Andrew Jackson also has a statute in the park. He is probably most recognized as the face on the $20 bill.

In 1963, protesters, led by Rev. Martin Luther King, gathered at St. John’s Church at the northeast corner of the park (H Street and Madison Place) before starting the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Today, the park is popular with chess players, feeding the birds, quiet relaxation or as an occasional site for a protest or rally.

Lafayette Park is just a block from the White House and is surrounded by historical buildings, including the Old Executive Office Building (now called the Eisenhower Executive Building) at 17th and Pennsylvania.

Lafayette Park
Pennsylvania Ave. and Jackson Pl, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Dates and Times - The park is open to the public 24-hours a day.

Admission - FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station - McPherson Square or Farragut West, Blue and Orange lines, then a 2-3 block walk, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking - Limited metered street parking is available in the area.

Images - Jackson statue, Lafayette statue, cannon, chess players, birds

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