This is one of my favorite spots in the world, Freedom Plaza. Today I sat there and drank some coffee and it was cold. Freedom Plaza, originally known as Western Plaza, is an open plaza in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. Designed in 1980, the plaza is mostly composed of stone, inlaid with a depiction of parts of Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant’s plan for the City of Washington. Most of the plaza is raised above street level. The western end of the plaza contains a large fountain, while the eastern end of the plaza contains an equestrian statue of Kazimierz Pułaski. The plaza was renamed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his “I Have a Dream” speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. In 1988, a time capsule containing a Bible, a robe, and other relics of King’s was planted at the site. It will be reopened in 2088. Usually monuments tower above everything, but this one lays completely flat in a sea of buildings. I think the giant marble map is a neat concept by itself, but my favorite part is the open space it creates because space is the one thing that will never blend in or disappear into that landscape. During my brief stint in DC in 2007, I usually tried to visit at least once a week to clear my head. When you look east, there’s a clear view of the Capitol (above). Looking west, you can see the White House. The plaza is like a physical pause in the middle of the chaos. I like it.

This is one of my favorite spots in the world, Freedom Plaza. Today I sat there and drank some coffee and it was cold.

Freedom Plaza, originally known as Western Plaza, is an open plaza in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. Designed in 1980, the plaza is mostly composed of stone, inlaid with a depiction of parts of Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant’s plan for the City of Washington. Most of the plaza is raised above street level. The western end of the plaza contains a large fountain, while the eastern end of the plaza contains an equestrian statue of Kazimierz Pułaski.

The plaza was renamed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his “I Have a Dream” speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. In 1988, a time capsule containing a Bible, a robe, and other relics of King’s was planted at the site. It will be reopened in 2088.

Usually monuments tower above everything, but this one lays completely flat in a sea of buildings. I think the giant marble map is a neat concept by itself, but my favorite part is the open space it creates because space is the one thing that will never blend in or disappear into that landscape.

During my brief stint in DC in 2007, I usually tried to visit at least once a week to clear my head. When you look east, there’s a clear view of the Capitol (above). Looking west, you can see the White House. The plaza is like a physical pause in the middle of the chaos. I like it.

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Sometimes I write things on Nashvillest.com and other times I work a real job that involves lots of airports, hotels, spreadsheets and the occasional pantsuit. Avid roadtripper, lover of redbud trees and firm believer in taking the scenic route. These are a few of my favorite things.

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