Map Changes
Looking at the June version of the map , we note where the alignment of Massachusetts Avenue was altered by moving the position of the "bend" closer to the Capitol Building, while moving both the "upper" (north-west) and the "lower" (south-east) ends to the north a bit. If you look closely you will see that the line pivots around Mt Vernon Square and Lincoln Square which do not move. Remember that Mass Ave still has a bend in it today; it was not completely straightened. This is an enlargement of the area north of the White House, from the earlier map. I have highlighted streets that were removed from the later map. You can also see several squares that were subsequently removed. This is an enlargement of the area south and east of the Capitol Building. Notice how "G" Street intersects the square plaza area (right- red). The upper avenue in red is Massachusetts, and the lower one is Potomac Avenue. Here is the same section in the later version of the planning map. Note that G Street remains the same, while the open area on the river's edge is enlarged and shifted to the north; so that G Street now aligns with the southern edge of that area. You will notice that the point where Mass. Ave intersects the opening was moved up (north), allowing for the straightening of the avenue; while Potomac Avenue is likewise realigned, as well as being lengthened. The next image shows the Good map overlaid on the June L'Enfant plan, for the sake of comparison. The old map is marked in red, and the new map in blue. As you can see, the greatest changes take place in the area surrounding the pentagram and the south-east corner of the map, while the positions of The White House, the Capitol and Pennsylvania Avenue remain virtually unchanged (except for the extreme north-west end of that - above the WH.) That is to say that it does not look as it the White House was actually moved to the west for advantage of higher ground. In this image, we add another layer with the purple indicating elements that reamined exactly the same, and with yellow indicating the most radically changed elements, the most noteable of which are Mass. and Potomac Ave's, the landing at the Eastern Branch and the canal, and the three streets north of the White House. Mt Vernon Sq and Lincoln Square don't move, Mass Ave is realigned around them and the 'V' above the White House is narrowed relocating Rhode Isalnd Ave and Scott , DuPont and Logan Circles. The landing on the East Branch is moved north and enlarged relocating Potomac Ave. The northwest end of Virginia Avenue is realigned with the Washington Monument. Of all the DC maps in existence, the one with the oval in the upper left, is the only one that doesn't match the current configuration yet this is the map that Mann chooses to analyze. Continue

Map Changes

Looking at the June version of the map , we note where the alignment of Massachusetts Avenue was altered by moving the position of the "bend" closer to the Capitol Building, while moving both the "upper" (north-west) and the "lower" (south-east) ends to the north a bit. If you look closely you will see that the line pivots around Mt Vernon Square and Lincoln Square which do not move. Remember that Mass Ave still has a bend in it today; it was not completely straightened.

This is an enlargement of the area north of the White House, from the earlier map. I have highlighted streets that were removed from the later map. You can also see several squares that were subsequently removed.

This is an enlargement of the area south and east of the Capitol Building. Notice how "G" Street intersects the square plaza area (right- red). The upper avenue in red is Massachusetts, and the lower one is Potomac Avenue.

Here is the same section in the later version of the planning map. Note that G Street remains the same, while the open area on the river's edge is enlarged and shifted to the north; so that G Street now aligns with the southern edge of that area.

You will notice that the point where Mass. Ave intersects the opening was moved up (north), allowing for the straightening of the avenue; while Potomac Avenue is likewise realigned, as well as being lengthened.
The next image shows the Good map overlaid on the June L'Enfant plan, for the sake of comparison. The old map is marked in red, and the new map in blue. As you can see, the greatest changes take place in the area surrounding the pentagram and the south-east corner of the map, while the positions of The White House, the Capitol and Pennsylvania Avenue remain virtually unchanged (except for the extreme north-west end of that - above the WH.) That is to say that it does not look as it the White House was actually moved to the west for advantage of higher ground.

In this image, we add another layer with the purple indicating elements that reamined exactly the same, and with yellow indicating the most radically changed elements, the most noteable of which are Mass. and Potomac Ave's, the landing at the Eastern Branch and the canal, and the three streets north of the White House.
Mt Vernon Sq and Lincoln Square don't move, Mass Ave is realigned around them and the 'V' above the White House is narrowed relocating Rhode Isalnd Ave and Scott , DuPont and Logan Circles. The landing on the East Branch is moved north and enlarged relocating Potomac Ave. The northwest end of Virginia Avenue is realigned with the Washington Monument.

Of all the DC maps in existence, the one with the oval in the upper left, is the only one that doesn't match the current configuration yet this is the map that Mann chooses to analyze.

Continue